The Gazette’s campaign on the new hospital proposals makes the case for the Government to absolutely and without qualification commit the needed money to Basingstoke and North Hampshire. Not half-truths of possible funding if the business case is proven sometime after 2030 as part of a future spending review. The people of Basingstoke and North Hampshire have been promised a new hospital by this Government and our MP.

We have been told that the money was guaranteed and that it was ring fenced, that a site was chosen. The Gazette and the Women’s Equality Party’s Stacy Hart have proven that was not the case.

READ MORE: I completed the new hospital consultation online and this is how easy it was

Building a new hospital in Basingstoke is critical to the future of healthcare in North Hampshire. We want first class health services and I want to thank the NHS team leading on the proposals and the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for all the work they have been doing. They’ve made the case clearly and positively for a new hospital.

There isn’t a site chosen yet, but when and if one is then a full and transparent planning process will need to be followed where people can have their say.

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The current consultation on options and proposals is open until the 17th March. I would encourage everyone who hasn’t yet made a representation – please take part. hampshiretogether.nhs.uk.

There are a lot of questions still to answer, not least on transport accessing any new site at Junction 7 off the M3. People would need to know how they would get to work, or to see loved ones at a new hospital. There are questions over services spread around North Hampshire and what would be where on which site? There are important questions over the links to GPs and primary care which are under such pressure. We lack a 24-hour pharmacy in Basingstoke. Let’s not forget the shortage of GPs and NHS dentists that we face.

Looking to the future we need the Government to step up with answers which help address the concerns residents have about access to first class health services. The NHS website is called Hampshire Together, and that is exactly what this debate needs. People need to come together and call for the hospital to be built, no more spinning words, we need to see a firm and absolute commitment to a new hospital and to wider health services in Basingstoke and North Hampshire.