You may have seen last week's publication of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health and Care System Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and other health care organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including NHS North East Hampshire and Farnham Clinical Commissioning Group.
Although I welcome the plan for strategic oversight and economies of scale for healthcare across Hampshire, I am concerned about the long overdue critical treatment hospital.
The 24/7 consultant-delivered care that this hospital will deliver to residents is crucial to provide the safest services for the most at risk patients. It is important that women who need specialist medical help with the birth of their children receive the safest obstetric care also.
The proposed Critical Treatment Hospital is supported by the Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust, as well as many local and national doctors, senior clinical staff, GP leaders and the ambulance service.
I hope that a decision on the Critical Treatment Hospital will be made as soon as possible to ensure the best outcomes for patients.