New Basingstoke hospital could mean longer journey times for West Berkshire patients
West Berkshire residents will face longer journey times if the new hospital planned for Basingstoke moves ahead.
The district’s health board is being asked to consult on options to create two hospitals for Hampshire including a new specialist acute hospital, near Junction 7 of the M3, and investment to refurbish Winchester hospital and create a planned surgery centre there.
The option to refit the existing hospital is the least favoured option.
There is currently a direct bus service from Newbury to the existing Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital site.
This takes around 40 minutes to travel to the existing site.
Patients from West Berkshire travelling to Winchester would have a journey time of at least 90 minutes, with many parts of the district having a travel time of two hours or more.
Although West Berkshire falls under the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board and therefore the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, a significant number of West Berkshire residents choose to use the existing hospital at Basingstoke, since it is nearer or has shorter travel time for large parts of the district.
This is particularly the case for maternity services.
The proposed site for the new acute hospital would be to the south-west of Basingstoke, near Junction 7 of the M3.
This would lead to longer physical journeys and longer travel times for patients and visitors travelling from the north and east, including those travelling from West Berkshire.
The catchment for the existing Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital extends into West Berkshire including Newbury, Thatcham, Aldermaston, Mortimer and potentially parts of Burghfield Common and Theale.
The analysis of the travel times suggests the impacts will be a mixed bag for West Berkshire.
Some rural areas towards the west of the district appear to benefit from shorter off-peak travel times – presumably this is because access would be via the A34 and M3.
However, most of the communities in West Berkshire appear to be disadvantaged with longer travel times in both peak and off-peak periods.
It is not clear whether these changes would impact on hospital catchments, and if it would be quicker for residents to be taken to an alternative hospital.
A further unknown is how West Berkshire would be affected if the Royal Berkshire Hospital relocated to a different site.
In its response to the neighbouring borough, West Berkshire suggests in order to minimise travel times, a direct bus service from Newbury should be provided, rather than making passengers travel to Basingstoke and change buses.
However, even with a direct service, travel times are likely to be significantly affected.
Although the case for the new hospital states: “Evidence shows that where there are longer journey times, these would be more than offset by shorter waits to see a senior doctor and for diagnostics on arrival at hospital, more consistent high quality care, improved outcomes, shorter hospital stays, and services that are sustainable for the long term.”
West Berkshire’s population will have a higher population of older people in future years, which will be likely to increase demand on hospital services and ease of access will be key, says West Berkshire’s response.
Although the proportion of the population aged 70 plus in West Berkshire is no greater than the England average, the fact that there is a large population currently aged 40 to 69 indicates that an increasingly ageing population over the next 10 plus years is likely, and the rate of increase will be higher than that seen in other areas.
It is not clear whether the relative differences in future demographics between the different local authorities that fall within the catchment for the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospitals have been fully taken into account.
West Berkshire Council’s adult social care team works with North Hampshire Hospital to facilitate hospital discharges for those residents who require care and support in the community or require admission to a residential or nursing home.
West Berkshire Council has link workers on site to support residents and carry out assessments under the Care Act 2014 for their care and support to facilitate a safe hospital discharge.
Hospital discharges from North Hampshire Hospital account for around 25 per cent of all the hospital discharges West Berkshire Council’s adult social care service support, so the volumes are significant.
Therefore, said the response, some thought should be given to providing a base at the hospital for the local authority staff with adequate access to the internet.
