PLANS to build a brand new hospital in Basingstoke have been brought back to life after six years of campaigning by the town’s MP Maria Miller.

In 2015, the NHS shelved proposals to build a £150million hospital at North Waltham due to a lack of money.

But this week the plans were reignited after the Government announced Hampshire’s NHS would receive funding to put a fresh business case together. 

The government confirmed on Monday that Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital was among the 21 trusts to receive funding.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be awarded a share of £100million in funding to develop business cases for new projects as part of the Department of Health and Social Care’s new Health Infrastructure Plan.

This funding will be used by the Trust to develop a business case to build the new hospital, to be delivered between 2025 and 2030.

The Gazette understands that plans will centre around the site at North Waltham.

The greenfield site was selected previously because it offered “the shortest possible ambulance time” for the population of North Hampshire.

The Conservative MP for Basingstoke has been making the case for a new healthcare hub for the town for six years.

Mrs Miller said: “The current building is much loved by local residents but needs replacing to ensure our local NHS is able to meet the needs of a growing population in North Hampshire.

“Residents and staff have shared their concerns with me about the current building’s ability to meet local residents’ needs: the fabric of the building, the ventilation system, sewers and air conditioning are not coping well. We need a new building to ensure we have the best patient care for the sickest patients in our area.

“I hope that Hampshire Hospitals Trust continues to listen to the local ambulance service who favour a new hospital being built near Junction 7 of the M3.

“Building the new hospital near Junction 7 will make it quicker and easier for the ambulance service to get the very sickest patients to accident and emergency as quickly as possible.”

“I will now work with Hampshire Hospitals Trust and the Department of Health to ensure the new hospital is delivered as soon as possible for the people of Basingstoke.”

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, said: “I am delighted that Hampshire Hospitals has been selected.

“Our hospitals are in real need of investment and we are already exploring ways that we can provide a more modern environment, designed for the needs of our patients and staff both today and in the future.

“This funding from the Department of Health and Social Care will enable us to accelerate this work.

“We are looking forward to establishing what our plans will look like, working with our staff, patients and the public to ensure that we create a healthcare infrastructure that is fit for the future.”

n WHAT do you think?

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