“THIS is a huge issue in Basingstoke” – these were the words of Basingstoke’s parliamentary candidate for Labour who claims the town has been “let down” by the Conservatives over plans to build a new hospital.

Speaking on ITV News for debate programme The Last Word chaired by political correspondent Phil Hornby, David Lawrence told the host that Basingstoke is still waiting for a new hospital two years after it was promised as part of the Conservative's flagship NHS pledge.

Following a discussion about the NHS including strikes, growing waiting lists and patient dissatisfaction, Mr Hornby asked Mr Lawrence: “If Labour become the new government, it will be your problem to sort out?”

Read more: Plans to build a new hospital for Basingstoke appear to come to a halt

The Labour parliamentary candidate agreed, saying: “It’s a huge issue in Basingstoke particularly [as] we’ve got the worst estate in a hospital in Basingstoke and Maria Miller, our local Conservative MP, promised as a key part of her election campaign in the last election that we would get a new hospital. That’s not happened.”

He added: “It’s been two years since she made that promise and nothing has happened despite the fact that it’s something people in Basingstoke want, it’s something we need and we’re feeling the effects of that. I hear about it all the time on the doorstep in Basingstoke.”

His comments come after the Gazette revealed that Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals, has the worst maintenance backlog in the south-east, with ceiling tiles falling down and sewage leaks just some of the problems in its ageing buildings.

Fears have also been raised nationally that there is insufficient funding which could scupper the Conservative's pledge to build 40 new hospitals, putting the plans for Basingstoke in doubt.

See also: Plans to build a new hospital for Basingstoke put into doubt

Mr Lawrence also spoke during the debate about problems with GP surgeries in Basingstoke, describing the situation as “horrific”, adding: “It’s incredibly hard to get an appointment at the moment.”

Also taking part in the debate was Baroness Jenny Jones of Moulsecoomb in Brighton for the Green Party and Steve Brine MP, Conservative MP for Winchester.

Topics debated included problems with water supply in Hampshire and sewage being dumped into rivers.

Speaking after the programme broadcast, Mr Lawrence said the situation for the NHS in Basingstoke is “particularly bad”.

He added: “Our hospital is literally falling apart… The fundamental job of the government is to keep people safe, and this is not happening in Basingstoke.”

He vowed to “fight for a new hospital” for Basingstoke if he is elected as an MP for the town.

Maria Miller said: “Hampshire hospitals trust is part of the government's new hospital programme of 40 new hospitals. It isn’t appropriate for me to comment on speculations by other people.

"I am working with the ministers and our local hospital to ensure that significant work that is underway continues. As before NHS rules mean that planning consent can only be applied for at a later date.”