PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has reconfirmed that the new hospital planned for mid and north Hampshire will not be built in Winchester.

Speaking at today’s Prime Minister’s Questions Mr Johnson told the House of Commons that the government that a new hospital will be developed in Basingstoke.

On Friday last week he confirmed funding for 40 hospitals across England, to be built by 2030.

Detailing the entire list of locations, the government says it is earmarking funding for a "new hospital at Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital and major refurbishment at Royal Hampshire Hospital (RHCH) in Winchester".

Today, Mr Johnson was asked by MP for east Hampshire Damian Hinds about the wider support that will be developed alongside the new hospital.

He said: “Can I welcome the Prime Minister’s confirmation of the 40 new hospitals this decade including the mid and north Hampshire proposal which will serve many of my constituents in east Hampshire.

“Does he agree with me that this is also a good opportunity to optimise health care provision across the wider area making full use of our community hospitals like Alton Hospital.”

Hampshire Chronicle:

To which Mr Johnson replied: “I can confirm to my Right Honourable Friend that we are building a new hospital at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and major refurbishment at the Royal Hampshire Hospital in Winchester and we will continue to support Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as they develop their plans including such local infrastructure as Alton Community Hospital.”

The announcement comes as a blow to hopes that the Winchester Hospital will retain its current range of services, including an A&E unit and the consultant-led maternity unit at Florence Portal House.

A spokesman for HHFT insisted the consultation would go ahead before any decisions on hospital services were made. He said even if the Government has announced Basingstoke as the location of a new hospital that was “not binding”.

Steve Brine MP said: “There’s no question the trust faces significant pressure to centralise certain services. Some of that external, around neonatal care for instance, some of it not.

“I have consistently said this project is primarily about replacing Basingstoke Hospital and the PM confirmed that. But he also made clear, as we promised at the election, it will see significant investment at the RHCH and I remain of the view Winchester needs and deserves a district general hospital with an emergency department and consultant-led maternity services.

“I know it’s difficult and I know the Trust want a clinical model that does it’s best by us all but I would urge them to keep an open mind even at this stage and not to give up on Winchester hospital because we have not.”

Lib Dem county councillor Martin Tod said: “I’m concerned that this decision has been rushed ahead to solve a political problem for the Conservative Party rather than being properly thought through.   While it’s reassuring to know that investment is planned for Winchester – it’s disappointing that they seem to have pre-empted the decision to put the new hospital at Basingstoke.”

City councillor Paula Ferguson, Lib Dem, added: “The Government has made a mockery of the consultation. On Monday (September 28) we were presented with six options for detailed study and public consultation.

“On Friday the Government announced that the new hospital was going to be in Basingstoke. It will be understandable if people feel their views aren’t going to be taken seriously.”