Steve Brine says a half-billion pound cash boost for Winchester hospital shows the NHS has great faith in the future of the much-loved Romsey Road site.
The Health Secretary today announced seed funding would be made available to enable a £550m rebuild of the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. The move is part of a new strategic approach to hospital building which encompasses waves of new hospitals on a rolling five years basis.
The Royal Hampshire is in the second batch meaning it will be given initial funding now to allow HHFT to develop their business case and seek planning but it has been made clear the Trust has the go-ahead from Ministers to transform the site.
Winchester and Chandler’s Ford MP Steve Brine said; “In recent years I’ve successfully lobbied for small amounts of funding, for-instance to improve the Emergency Department or relocate the hospital Pharmacy team.
“They are all really important to the patient experience but this is on a totally different scale and will secure long-term, safe and sustainable services at the RHCH. It’s a huge vote of confidence in Winchester from the Government and the NHS.
"I am regularly in the hospital, meeting clinicians and senior management and was just on Friday actually. I will look forward to working closely with the Trust as we develop plans to transform the RHCH for the benefit of my constituents over many years to come. This is what an experienced and effective constituency MP is able to deliver."
Steve Brine has campaigned tirelessly since becoming Winchester’s MP under his #PriorityNHS banner and was, until the Spring, a Minister at the Department of Health and Social Care.
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