GOVERNMENT funding earmarked for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) could be used to build a new hospital in Winchester instead of Basingstoke.

As previously reported in the Gazette, the government has allocated funding for the trust as part of its Health Infrastructure Plan for hospital building projects, with papers stating the money is for Basingstoke and Winchester.

The trust confirmed to the Gazette that it has been promised a new hospital, but said: “The funding is for the trust. There’s no stipulation on where anything should be built.”

The Gazette asked if that could mean the funds are used to build a new hospital for Winchester instead of Basingstoke, but the trust is yet to respond.

Alex Whitfield, chief executive of the trust, said: “There are a number of possibilities under consideration and at this stage nothing has been ruled out, so we need as many people as possible to tell us what they think is most important as we set off on our journey.”

A survey launched by the trust asks the public to state the postcode area in which they live before selecting their “top five priorities for improvement when it comes to the modernisation of our hospitals”.

Options include mental health provision, adequate parking, recreational facilities for staff, environmentally friendly building and modern design features.

The trust has already received £5m seed funding to allow it to “proceed to the next stage of developing their hospital plans”.

Further funds are not due to be given until between 2025 and 2030.

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller is calling for the funds to be used to build a new hospital for the town, at a location near Junction 7 of the M3.

The site was previously identified as the ideal location for a new Critical Treatment Hospital, however HHFT’s plans to build the £150m hospital had to be scrapped in 2017 because it was deemed “not affordable” by the local clinical commissioning groups, which pay trusts to provide health services.

It is not yet known how much money HHFT will receive from the government, however Mrs Miller believes it will allow for “the complete replacement of all elements of the hospital”.

To take part in the survey, which is open until 9am on March 18, visit www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ModernisingOurHospitals.