THE trust which runs Basingstoke hospital has stepped into help out after a major incident was declared at Southampton General Hospital.

Chiefs have declared a major incident after a power failure at Southampton General Hospital, where many Basingstoke patients with cancer receive treatment.

Now, both Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, and Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital have been asked to act as receiving hospitals for patients being diverted from Southampton.

A Hampshire Hospitals spokesperson, which runs the Basingstoke and Winchester facilities, said: "We have activated our well-rehearsed major incident plan and are calling on our staff and partner organisations to support.

"We are also asking the public to use the NHS 111 helpline to help them decide whether visiting our emergency departments at this time is the best course of action and to avoid contacting the hospitals by telephone unless strictly necessary."

An electrical cable fault has been identified as the cause of the problem, and has been temporarily resolved but University Hospital Southampton continue to have restrictions in place.

A spokesperson said: "The restrictions put in place around appointments and visiting, in addition to cancellations, remain in place for now as we carry out further maintenance but we will provide further updates throughout the day.

"We would like to thank our patients, staff and members of the public, as well as our partner organisations including neighbouring hospitals, for their support during this period of disruption.

"We wish to reassure relatives that all of our patients are safe, have been reviewed by staff and continue to receive the care they require.

"Our theatres and intensive care units remain open, however, we will not resume non-urgent surgery until we are confident there will be no further power issues."

Many people from Basingstoke and the surrounding area receive forms of cancer treatment at Southampton General Hospital.