HAMPSHIRE Together, the group developing plans for Basingstoke’s promised new hospital, has said residents can be "assured" that there are "no plans" for the town to lose any of its valued cancer services.

At a meeting of the borough council’s Community, Environment and Partnerships (CEP) committee on Wednesday (December 16), members of the Hampshire Together group outlined their vision for a new acute, centralised hospital in Basingstoke, as well as updated facilities in Winchester, as part of a £3.7 billion package of government funding.

Some members raised questions about what the opening of an acute hospital in the town would mean for existing services.

Cllr Jenny Vaux (Conservative, Tadley Central) said: “Because of the nature of cancer services, having fairly local services is very important. What I’m worried about is that we will lose some of the really good services that we appreciate having now. So I would appreciate you remembering that cancer services in Basingstoke are highly prized and valued by local residents.”

Cllr Vaux referenced in particular the opening of Basingstoke’s radiotherapy unit in 2014, which meant people in the area didn’t have to make regular trips to Southampton to receive treatment.

In response, Shirlene Oh, director of strategy and partnerships at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HCFT), assured members that there would be no loss to existing cancer services - and that an expansion may even be considered.

She said: “Our intent will be definitely to have a cancer treatment centre as part of the new acute centralised hospital, so you can be assured there are no plans to remove any of those services and, depending on the growth of the population and the needs, we may also look into whether that needs to be expanded.”