BASINGSTOKE is set to gain a brand new hospital, Maria Miller has announced. 

The MP for the town has been making the case to Government for a new hospital for Basingstoke for more than six years.

Ms Miller has welcomed the Government announcement that Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital is among the 21 hospital schemes that have been given the go-ahead with the funding they need to develop their business cases.

Over the weekend, it was announced the Government will build six news hospitals as part of a £2.7billion cash boost for the National Health Service. A further £100million will be awarded to hospitals to make improvements. 

Ms Miller told the Gazette today: “I have been making the case to Government for a new hospital for Basingstoke for more than 6 years. 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.”

Mrs Miller has been making the case to Government for a new hospital for Basingstoke for more than 6 years.

She said the current Basingstoke hospital is much loved but was opened in the 1970’s but is in need of a rebuild. 

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, in Winchester, and Andover War Memorial Hospital, said: “I am delighted that Hampshire Hospitals has been selected as one of the Trusts that will receive central funding as part of phase two of the Department of Health and Social Care’s Health Infrastructure Plan.

“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 our staff, patients and the public to ensure that we create a healthcare infrastructure that is fit for the future.”