A public consultation into proposals on how to best invest up to £900 million in hospital services in Hampshire is now over halfway to completion.
Patients, local people, and NHS staff are being encouraged to get involved and give their views on the proposals, which include building a new specialist acute hospital in Basingstoke or near Junction 7 of the M3, and significant investment in refurbishing Winchester hospital. The options, which are currently out to consultation, would transform healthcare for people and communities across the county.
Dr Lara Alloway, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight said: “We have held nine public listening events in person and five online, and there are at least another eight in person and three online events planned before the consultation closes in mid-March.
“We’re keen to hear from as many people as possible, in whichever way is most convenient for them and are continuing to hold events in a variety of different towns and locations, as well as at different times of day including evenings and weekends, as well as online. We’re also continuing to conduct one-to-one telephone surveys and focus groups with people across the area.
“We’ve made information available in a range of formats, including large print, Easy Read, factsheets, and summary documents, all of which are available on the consultation website, www.hampshiretogether.nhs.uk.”
As well as a series of ‘pop-up’ stands across shopping centres and other community spaces held so far, a number of drop-in exhibitions with more information are planned for the second half of the consultation. An animation is also being published and promoted to help explain the proposals to a wider audience.
These are in addition to more in-person events being added due to public demand, with the latest timetable available on the Hampshire Together website.
Get involved
Patients, local people, and NHS staff are being encouraged to get involved in the consultation and have their say by Sunday 17 March 2024, and an online questionnaire is available and is one of the easiest ways to do so.
Details of forthcoming online and in-person listening events can be found here.
People can also get in touch to share their views by email at hiowicb-hsi.mohhs@nhs.net, by calling 0300 561 0905, or by writing to Freepost HAMPSHIRE TOGETHER.