Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond has raised Mid Hampshire’s new £900 million hospital in parliament this week as the consultation over the plans continues.
Flick is urging Winchester and Meon Valley residents to have their say over the proposals on where to put the new hospital and a reorganisation of services.
The MP supports building it at junction 7 of the M3 and is backing health experts who say it will lead to better and safer treatment.
“Up to £900 million for a brand-new acute hospital is coming to mid-Hampshire and health experts are making the case that it will make huge improvements in care, despite some politically inspired and misinformed opposition,” she told the House of Commons.
“Can my honourable friend reassure my constituents that those running our local NHS should be listened to, and also that the doctor-led urgent treatment centre in Winchester will continue to provide for three quarters of urgent cases including X-rays, MRI scans and other tests after the new acute hospital is built, which we hope will be at junction 7?”
In reply health minister Helen Whately said: “I commend my honourable friend for her hard work on supporting the new hospital, for the leadership she is providing and for her work on encouraging residents to have their say in the consultation.
“I cannot prejudge the outcome of the consultation but I agree with her that the new hospital will be great for patients, with its modern facilities.
“She is right to say that an urgent treatment centre can provide excellent emergency care for the majority of people who attend A&E.”
Speaking afterwards Flick said people concerned about the plans should look closely at them.
“Without a doubt an up to £900 million investment in a new state-of-the-art hospital is very good news. It means better and safer patient care and better working conditions for staff. That is the message from those who deliver these services and I believe them.
“I understand concerns about changes to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital but I do not think replacing A&E with a 24-hour urgent treatment centre will have any negative effect when a new acute hospital is just up the M3.
“The hospital needs to be at junction 7 – the preferred location - and not in Basingstoke. It is important that everyone indicates this is the location they want in the consultation that ends on 17th March.”
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