URGENT surgery and cancer surgery may have to be delayed because of a predicted bed shortage over the winter at Hampshire hospitals, the Gazette can reveal.

A ‘winter plan’ for Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT), which runs Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals, has predicted there will be a shortage of beds for “a number of weeks” which could result in the cancellation of elective care and a delay to some urgent or cancer surgery.

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Chief executive Alex Whitfield told the trust’s board of directors on November 24 that the Integrated Care Board (ICB) is working with Southern Health and Hampshire County Council to “increase capacity in community settings”.

She said this would be through both a “direct increase in capacity” and a “reduction in the length of stay within community beds”.

Asked about the possible bed shortage, Andy Hyett, chief operating officer, said: “Whilst the winter period continues to present real challenges for every NHS organisation, we are always working closely with our system partners to ensure we are as prepared as possible for this particular busy period.

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“Focusing on discharging patients safely and efficiently and embracing new technologies which help to support people in their own homes are just some of the ways in which we are trying to minimise the impact of these pressures.

“The community can also play their part by using the right services at the right time, helping to support our teams who will be working incredibly hard to care for everyone who needs us throughout this festive period.”