BASINGSTOKE’S MP has warned that plans to build a new hospital for Basingstoke could be at risk if the consultation is not ‘viable’ - however her fears have been quashed by the hospital trust. 

Speaking at a ‘community chat’ event at Carnival Hall on Thursday, February 29, Maria Miller claimed that questions and concerns raised about funding for the new hospital were putting people off taking part in the consultation.

As previously reported, a petition has been launched to 'prove' the funding for a new hospital exists after it was announced that hospitals in cohort 4 of the New Hospital Programme (NHP) will not be funded by the £22bn for the scheme. 

READ MORE: Update on new hospital re-confirms funding concerns for Basingstoke

Those at the event heard that around 2,000 people have so far taken part in the consultation on plans to spend between £700m and £900m for a new hospital for Basingstoke, and 28 events will have been held in total before the consultation ends on Sunday, March 17.

Cllr Jenny Vaux, a Conservative councillor for Chineham, said residents were sceptical about the plans, explaining: “Some of my residents feel like they have been tantalisingly been offered a hospital before and don’t believe they will get a new one.”

Funding was raised at the event by Conservative borough councillors in attendance. 

Cllr Stephen Reid said: “It seems as if some people think we are going to be called up to Westminster to be given the money.”

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Cllr David McIntyre apologised to representatives from the hospital trust at the meeting for “the way you have been in the middle of a political cuffuffle”. He added: “It’s unfortunate there are no councillors from the other parties here.”

Dame Maria told those at the meeting that the funding is available but that it has to be approved following the submission of a business plan. She added: “It’s the way the NHS works and what the rules are and quite rightly because they are using taxpayers’ money.”

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s [the funding] been confirmed on numerous occasions. We still have to submit a business case to the Treasury.”

Asked how many people need to take part in the new hospital consultation for it to be viable, a spokesperson for HHFT told the Gazette after the meeting: “We have engaged thousands of people across the county on the proposals so far.

“There is no set threshold of responses needed, nor a response rate above which, or below which, any public consultation is deemed 'viable' or not.

“The purpose of consultation is to understand from as many different perspectives as possible what the impact of the proposals would be – the opportunities and benefits as well as any negative impact and what mitigations could be put in place to reduce these.

“It is only by listening to our patients, carers, staff, local people, and our partners, that we can make our proposals as good as they can possibly be.

"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has got involved and shared their views as part of the consultation. We would like to encourage anyone who hasn’t yet shared their view to do so before consultation closes on 17 March 2024 at midnight.”

To take part in the consultation visit hampshiretogether.nhs.uk.