SINGLE bedrooms with en-suites and robots delivering laundry could be some of the benefits of a new hospital according to those behind the project.

Representatives from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) spoke to attendees of Basingstoke MP Maria Miller’s ‘community chat’ at Carnival Hall on Thursday, February 29, where they answered questions about the new hospital project.

The trust’s chief executive, Alex Whitfield, told those at the event: “There are various places across the country that are very jealous that we are getting a new hospital. We want to design healthcare for the future.”

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She said the current Basingstoke hospital, built in the 1970s, was designed to last 30 to 40 years and is now at the end of its life.

She explained that the new hospital, which will be built at either the current hospital site in Aldermaston Road or at Junction 7 of the M3, will have single bedrooms for patients with en-suite facilities, which she said supports patients to sleep better and speed up their recovery.

“There’s nowhere else in your life where you share a bedroom with a stranger. In other countries hospitals have single rooms and it’s a bit strange that we just accept it here,” she said.

The new hospital will also enable the trust to invest in new technology in the future, such as using robots to deliver linen.

However, a member of the public at the event raised concerns about introducing single rooms.

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The Old Basing resident, who has stayed in hospital on several occasions, said: “There’s nothing more boring than being imprisoned in a room for days when nothing happens. Is there any way that patients who are mobile can spend time out of the single rooms in another room? You are sitting in a room with other people and it passes the time.”

Ms Whitfield agreed and urged the resident to take part in the consultation to share his thoughts.

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