Proposed Hospital: North Hampshire

Opened the debate

The issue at hand is the strategic placement of a new £700-900 million hospital in north Hampshire, with critical consideration for its impact on emergency care and patient outcomes. Maria Miller highlights that every ten-minute delay in treatment for heart attack patients suffering from cardiogenic shock increases their risk of death by 3.3%, stressing the importance of strategic location based on clinical evidence. She mentions an ongoing public consultation on hospital services at Basingstoke and Winchester Hospitals, with two potential sites identified: junction 7 of the M3 and the existing Basingstoke site, where junction 7 is preferred due to better accessibility for ambulances and less disruption during construction. The proposal includes centralising critical services like maternity care and emergency departments at the new hospital, reducing duplication and improving quality of care based on extensive clinical evidence. She emphasises that following expert medical advice can reverse the current suboptimal neonatal service levels and improve overall patient outcomes.

Government Response

The Minister acknowledges the importance of local community input in deciding the hospital's location but emphasises that final decisions should be based on clinical evidence. The Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Integrated Care Board are currently reviewing public consultation responses, with a business case expected to be submitted for NHSE regional approval within months. Clinical guidance from experts is paramount in decision-making, as evidenced by the trust's proposal to twin acute medical services with surgical services for optimal patient care and the recommendation against maintaining separate A&E departments at both Basingstoke and Winchester due to safety concerns. The minister highlights that consolidated maternity services at the new hospital will better meet critical care requirements post-delivery, aligning with recommendations from the Ockenden review on maternal healthcare. She assures continued support for the trust in developing a business case that meets staff and patient needs while offering value for money.