A major milestone has been reached following the cutting of the first sod at the site of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s new Elective Hub and Orthopaedic Outpatients Department.
A special sod cutting ceremony at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester was attended by colleagues and supporters of Hampshire Hospitals, with the Trust’s chief executive, Alex Whitfield, joining Steve Brine, Member of Parliament for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford, and Jason Griffiths, regional director for Integrated Health Projects, in breaking the ground where the facilities will be located.
The Elective Hub and Orthopaedic Outpatients Department, which are both due to open in 2025, will help to provide more capacity for patients requiring orthopaedic operations, such as hip and knee replacements, and are part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment and investment into services in Winchester.
The Elective Hub will deliver an additional 2,400 procedures each year, improving access to elective surgery and reducing the backlog across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The facility will operate six days a week with consultants from Hampshire Hospitals and University Hospital Southampton coming together to deliver this work for patients from both Trusts.
The new Orthopaedic Outpatients Department will then provide further elective capacity, significantly reducing how long patients at Hampshire Hospitals will wait for an elective outpatient appointment. A “one-stop” model will also reduce the number of follow-up appointments by delivering the care patients need in just one appointment, with teams working side-by-side.
Alex Whitfield, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “These projects are incredibly important for our patients in Winchester and beyond, allowing us to deliver more timely care for those waiting for non-urgent but really important orthopaedic procedures.
“We work very closely with our system partners and this is a clear example of effective system working, with colleagues and partners working collaboratively to bring our plans for these new purpose-built facilities to life. A huge thank you to all who have enabled us to reach this major milestone and, with building work now underway, it is really exciting to think of all the patients, colleagues and others in our communities who will benefit from these fantastic facilities in the years to come.”
Jason Griffiths, regional director of Integrated Health Projects, said: “IHP under the P22 Framework are delighted to be the construction partner to the NHS on this prestigious project. We look forward to delivering excellent elective and outpatient facilities in Winchester in 2025.”
