WE will all need care from the National Health Service during our lives. When that time comes we want to receive the best treatment possible, delivered in state-of-the-art facilities by outstanding professionals.

The planned critical treatment hospital, unveiled last week by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), holds out exactly that prospect, as shown in the feature on pages 12 and 13 of The Gazette today.

As something that affects us all, one would think that it would be welcomed across the board. Yet there has been something of a mixed reaction – perhaps down to a number of disparate factors.

Least surprisingly there have been protests from those living near the proposed site. While their opposition is understandable, would it be right for the objections of a few to outnumber the potential to do good for the many?

There is also the charge that HHFT has not done enough to engage with people and sell the vision to them. This is a complaint voiced by many of those The Gazette has spoken to.

The most serious obstacle trust bosses need to overcome, however, is the question of money. It is doubly unfortunate that in the week HHFT chose to reveal more detail of the plan, the parlous state of its finances was laid bare (see page 2 of The Gazette today).

It will alarm many that a trust that wants to embark upon a £150million development is lagging £5.7million behind its own budget for the current financial year.

HHFT has said the new hospital is vital for its future health, as well as that of its patients. It will have to work extremely hard to convince that such a major investment – on borrowed money let us not forget – does not have the opposite affect and leave the trust on the critical list.

Useful links

Hospital trust facing cash crisis

Controversial new hospital plans unveiled