Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s planning application for a proposed critical treatment hospital to cover Andover, Basingstoke and Winchester is taking shape.
Over 450 people attended a public exhibition held by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in February 2015 to view and comment on the designs for a potential development of a critical treatment hospital and cancer treatment centre on land north of Junction 7 of the M3.
Mary Edwards, Chief Executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We were delighted so many people viewed the information either at the events, on our website or the displays in our hospitals in Andover, Basingstoke and Winchester. The feedback from the questionnaire, from the many one-to-one conversations we’ve had as well as the letters of support we have received has all helped us get a good idea of people’s views.”
While a number of responses from residents of the local area highlighted concern about the site, the broad response to the proposal was positive.
All the feedback from the survey in February can be accessed in the Statement of Community Involvement which will be submitted with the planning application.
The planning application is expected to be submitted to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on 10 April 2015. Once it has been registered it will be available to view through the planning pages on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s website.
The application is part of the Hampshire Hospitals’ proposal to develop a critical treatment hospital to care for the sickest and most at risk patients. Under these plans, the majority of patients would still continue to be treated and cared for at the local hospitals in Andover, Basingstoke and Winchester.
The intention is to find out if the site is acceptable in planning terms in preparation for any formal engagement and consultation.
To help make an informed decision on whether this proposal is the best way to ensure the highest possible quality of care for patients, the clinical commissioning groups (CCG) for north and west Hampshire are undertaking a detailed review of current health services in their area and considering the future healthcare needs of local communities.
This work will be subject to review and assurance by NHS England, following which it will be confirmed if there will be a formal consultation programme, in which the strategic options for acute hospitals in north and west Hampshire will be considered.
Any formal consultation will be led by the CCGs and NHS England (Wessex).