HAMPSHIRE hospital's plans to shake up health services in Basingstoke and Winchester have been challenged in the House of Commons today. 

Winchester MP Danny Chambers challenged the Prime Minister about the planned removal of consultant-led maternity services and the A&E unit at Winchester hospital, which have been proposed by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) as part of its plans to spend government funding on a new hospital for Basingstoke and refurbish Winchester hospital. 

Dr Chambers raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday October 16.

READ MORE: Basingstoke hospital announces new rule affecting all patients that will 'save lives'

(Image: House of Commons) Under plans proposed under the last Conservative government, the changes would leave the Royal Hampshire County Hospital (RHCH) in Winchester without a consultant-led maternity service and A&E, which would instead be based at a new hospital, proposed for a site near Junction 7 of the M3 at Basingstoke or at the current site of Basingstoke hospital, in Aldermaston Road. 

The issue has been hugely controversial with thousands of people supporting a petition against the plan.

Dr Chambers asked the PM Sir Keir Starmer to reassure constituents that the services remain at the RHCH and that a backlog of maintenance at the hospital is cleared.

The PM thanked him for raising the issue and said: "We are committed that all women and babies receive safe, compassionate and personalised care.

"The reconfigeration of services is a matter for integrated care boards. It is important that decisions are made locally and tailored to local interests but all changes should be based on evidence, clinically-led and involve engagement with patients to ensure they deliver the best outcomes. It is a very important issue."