PLANS to build a new hospital for Basingstoke are now “moving forward at pace”, according to the chief executive.

Giving an update on the new hospital programme at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s (HHFT) AGM, Alex Whitfield said: “It wasn’t until May we heard what money we will be getting. We are now moving forward at pace and hope to have a public consultation in the next few months.”

The Basingstoke project has been blighted by delays since the Government announced in 2020 that it was included in its plans to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 as part of a £3.7bn funding package.

READ MORE: New Basingstoke hospital one of eight projects delayed until 2030s

Earlier this year, Basingstoke was revealed to be one of eight hospitals in cohort four of the Government’s new hospital programme to be delayed until after 2030, meaning the Government will fail to deliver on its promises.

Funding of £800m to build Basingstoke’s new hospital was announced in May this year by Health Secretary Steve Barclay.

However, the project is already two years behind a published scheduled timeline.

A public consultation due to take place in January 2021 to help decide between two shortlisted locations has still not been held.

Ms Whitfield was hopeful that the project can now progress but said the new hospital will probably not open until 2032.

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“We are now all foot to the floor to make that happen,” she said, adding: “We have all of our ducks lined up. We have a series of meetings with the national treasury and NHS England folk.”

Ms Whitfield said once the four meetings have taken place, a public consultation can be held to help decide the location.

The two shortlisted locations are land off Junction 3 of the M3 or at the current site of Basingstoke hospital in Aldermaston Road.