The following statement was issued today:
Damian Hinds spoke out today about the government’s plans to put the new hospital for North Hampshire on hold. This follows a decision by the Health Secretary to pause the New Hospitals Programme, leaving 15 hospital schemes in limbo.
Responding to the announcement, Damian Hinds said:
“The case for this new hospital in Hampshire has been well made already by clinicians, staff and elected representatives, and there is overwhelming public support for the proposals. The Treasury had previously approved the necessary funding for the hospital; giving the green light for the hospital to proceed with the next stage of the planning works. It is incredibly frustrating that all of this hard work is now being held up by a government review.”
Damian added: “This follows a very public statement from the Prime Minister during his election campaign visit to Basingstoke where he promised local people that they would get their new hospital.
I know that the plans for the new hospital are well advanced, so I will be doing everything in my power to ensure that this new hospital is built.”
The hospital, which would serve Basingtoke and Winchester as well as those living in Alton, Four Marks, Medstead, the Candovers and surrounding areas, would create a state-of-the-art A&E plus centralised maternity and obstetric services. A public consultation on the location of the hospital closed earlier this year.
