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A message from Martin Earwicker, Chair
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The past few months have seen much to be proud of, including the opening of the Hampshire Orthopaedic Centre, our new scanning centre and the Greenham Oncology Centre. We have also received the results of the National Oversight Framework and hosted our Annual General Meeting - it was great to see some of you there. You will have seen we have also launched an engagement exercise as we look to refresh our Trust strategy for 2025-30, asking members of the public, patients, partners and our staff to have their say. There are more details on this below - please do get involved and help us get this right.
Our new Chief Executive, Sue Harriman, will be joining us at the start of October to take on her new leadership position here at Hampshire Hospitals and we very much look forward to welcoming her. Our current Chief Executive, Alex Whitfield, leaves the Trust at the end of October after eight years of dedicated service and we’re incredibly grateful for her exceptional commitment and leadership.
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New state-of-the-art Orthopaedic Centre opens!
Our brand new Hampshire Orthopaedic Centre, a state-of-the-art facility located at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, is now open! The purpose-built unit will improve elective surgery access for thousands of patients across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with consultants here at Hampshire Hospitals and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust delivering orthopaedic operations such as hip and knee replacements. Alongside this, we are also building a new orthopaedic outpatient facility. Scheduled to open later this year, this new space will provide an additional eight outpatient rooms; a co-located plain film x-ray service with an adjacent treatment room; and four fracture clinic assessment booths with a two-bay plaster room.
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Hampshire Hospitals shortlisted for five national patient safety awards
This year we were proud to be shortlisted as a finalist in five categories for this year’s Health Service Journal Patient Safety Awards, recognising our continued commitment to outstanding care and improving patient safety. Our initiatives were focused on enhancing patient safety across several areas, these were: maternity, theatres, fundamentals of care, quality improvement and overall patient experience. We are incredibly proud of all colleagues making strides in protecting patients from harm, reducing risks, and embedding a positive culture of safety.
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£6 million invested in new scanning centre
We will now be able to scan more than approx 850 MRI patients and 450 CT patients a month thanks to a £6 million investment in a refurbished and extended centre which includes two new Siemens MRI scanners and a new, Canon CT scanner. Clinical Director of Radiology, Dr Andrew Thrower, says: “We are thrilled to be opening these new scanners which have the latest technology, providing examinations produced on state-of-the-art equipment which facilitates accurate diagnosis, as well as incorporating many features which assist my radiographic colleagues who perform the scans."
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Greenham Oncology Centre officially opens!
Thanks to The Ark Cancer Charity and a grant from the Greenham Trust, £2 million has been invested into our formerly known Rainbow Unit to be redesigned and reopened as the Greenham Oncology Centre! Opened in July, by the Countess Mountbatten of Burma, the centre focuses on delivering high quality, effective and compassionate care. The staff aim to meet the patients’ needs by providing holistic and personalised care and each year up to 100,000 treatments will take place within the centre.
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National Oversight Framework results 25/26
Earlier this month, NHS England published the first Oversight Framework results for 2025/26, assessing the performance of NHS providers across key areas including patient care, safety, workforce, and finance. Our Trust is listed as a ‘large acute’ and placed in segment 3, with strong results in cancer treatment times, emergency care, patient experience, and financial planning. The areas identified as needing improvement – such as four-hour emergency targets and long waits for planned treatment – are already being addressed through initiatives like the new Hampshire Orthopaedic Centre and collaborative work on patient flow. The Framework will play a part in guiding focus on what matters most for patients, staff, and our community and we'll share updates as needed moving forward.
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Major research study launched at our world-leading cancer institute
A major research study has been launched by the Peritoneal Malignancy Institute at Hampshire Hospitals. In this study, 176 participants over the age of 16 will be assigned to two different doses of chemotherapy; monitoring will aim to establish how the cancer responds as well as impacts of the chemotherapy on a patient’s quality of life. The study, which is being carried out in partnership with the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, will also deliver valuable insight into the genetics of the disease, something which could assist in identifying more targeted treatment.
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Honorary Doctorate for Chief Strategy Officer
Our fantastic Chief Strategy and Population Health Officer, Shirlene Oh, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of London by Royal Holloway! The Doctor of Science Honoris Causa recognises Shirlene’s transformative role in healthcare as well as her commitment to building fairer, more sustainable health systems that tackle the root causes of poor health and support healthier communities. As part of her work here, she focuses on the social factors that influence health and promotes ways of working with seldom-heard communities and partners to reduce health inequalities.
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New staff wellbeing garden opens at Basingstoke site
Staff at our Basingstoke hospital now have a thriving outdoor space to take a break in now our new wellbeing garden is officially open! Thanks to support from Hampshire Hospitals Charity and NHS Charities Together, plus kind donations of time from local businesses, this peaceful space has been created to give our colleagues a place to rest, recharge and refresh during their busy shifts. Want to get involved? Hampshire Hospitals Charity are looking for volunteers to help! Email hh.charity@hhft.nhs.uk to help out.
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Have your say: Help shape our Trust strategy 2025-30
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We're refreshing our Trust strategy and want to hear your views. In recent months, we have seen a number of challenges and changes within the NHS both nationally and locally here in Hampshire. This includes the recently published Government 10-Year Health Plan, local pressures on our services, our aging population and buildings as well as workforce and financial challenges. Our Trust strategy will set out our priorities, guide the decisions we make, and help us plan how we will care for the patients who will need us tomorrow, next month and in the years to come.
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You can have your say by completing the online questionnaire or joining a workshop before 15 November 2025. Invites will be sent to members shortly with details on how to join a workshop. Click the link below to have your say or find out more on our website here.
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Catch up on our Annual General Meeting 2025
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If you didn't manage to join us on Wednesday 17 September for this year's AGM, you can catch up now by watching the recording linked above. The virtual event featured updates from Chief Executive Alex Whitfield, showcased digital stories through short films and welcomed guests and colleagues to share all about partnership working as we work to the 10 Year Health Plan shift 'Hospital to Community'.
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Working together and celebrating our people
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We recently marked World Patient Safety Day! At Hampshire Hospitals, patient safety is at the heart of everything we do. To mark the day, our brilliant patient safety team walked the wards across our hospitals to share best practice and highlight the simple actions that make a big difference to keeping our patients safe.
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South Asian Heritage Month celebrations were held at our Winchester site in Aust as colleagues danced, showcased traditional cuisine and shared music from South Asian cultures! We are proud to foster a culture where everyone belongs and is encouraged to celebrate who they are.
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In September we hosted our Inclusion Day, focused on building a truly inclusive workplace where everyone feels seen and heard. We welcomed many special guests including Paralympian Aaron Phipps who shared his lived experience. We are committed to empowering all colleagues to embody every aspect of our iCARE values.
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Earlier this month we worked with the Basingstoke youth forum to help us develop our Respect for Staff campaign. The young people contributed brilliant ideas for a youth-focused poster, from wording to visuals as well as lots of great energy and enthusiasm. We’re excited to see how these ideas will shape the final design!
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Rosie Dicks, Specialist Nurse for organ donation, proudly represented Hampshire Hospitals at the British Transplant Games in Oxford! Rosie joined around 2,000 others as she completed the 5km Donor Run through the Blenheim Palace grounds.
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Our urgent and emergency care team has been shortlisted, alongside North Hampshire Urgent Care (NHUC), as a finalist for the UHUK Awards! The nomination recognises the outstanding partnership work in helping to deliver an Urgent Treatment Centre at our Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. Well done to all involved!
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Our Winchester and Andover restaurants were recently awarded five stars for food safety following an Environmental Health Officer inspection! This is all thanks to our brilliant catering teams working hard to ensure patients, staff and visitors receive high quality food prepared to the highest standards in our restaurants.
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We're celebrating two years of digitising health records! What started as a gradual rollout is now a fully embedded way of working. Since June 2023, 212,109 patient records have been scanned, all specialty services now fully digital and we've reduced paper in outpatient services!
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We're proud to share that in 2024/25, our staff received a total of 3,779 WOW! Award nominations! The WOW! Awards is our recognition scheme and enables patients and colleagues to celebrate and thank our staff for the exceptional work they do every day. Read about the nominations and winners online here. Congratulations to all colleagues!
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Abigail Compton-Burnett, Governor for North Hampshire and West Berkshire
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"I am passionate about the importance of collaboration between the hospital and organisations that provide health and wellbeing services in the community. I try to use my experience as a former nurse, councillor and charity worker to provide insight and knowledge of local organisations, services and needs. This year, I have particularly enjoyed being part of the strategy development team. I have focused on “Working together for our population” and the benefits of working with local groups such as charities supporting people being discharged from hospital, sports clubs helping people with long term conditions and churches providing pastoral support."
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Did you know? You can make contact with your Governor easily to ask questions, discuss challenges you face within your communities or make suggestions for them to put forward.
Email governors@hhft.nhs.uk
Please tell us which Governor you would like your query to be directed to. If no name is given, our Lead Governor, Daughne Taylor, will respond. |
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Cleaner travel for healthier lives: How one small change can make a big difference
In this Clean Air Day blog, our Trust Chair Martin shares his personal journey towards healthier, more sustainable travel.
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Why people matter…
In this article, Tim Powell shares why people are at the heart of everything we do at Hampshire Hospitals. Marking the NHS’s birthday, he reflects on the simple but powerful truth.
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Six months in: Improving support for autistic people at Hampshire Hospitals
Helen Toomer-Jones, on secondment as Hampshire Hospitals’ All Age Autism Specialist Lead, is working to improve consistency, quality and equity of care for autistic patients.
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Colour Run brings a burst of joy to Harewood Forest – and raises £13,000 for our hospitals!
Harewood Forest exploded with colour in early August as around 300 people came together for a spectacular Colour Run in support of Hampshire Hospitals Charity.
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Hendog reveals new artwork installation at our Royal Hampshire County Hospital
A new piece of artwork has been installed on the children’s ward of a local hospital to help create a welcoming environment for young patients and their families.
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Pre-loved fashion show
Wednesday 8 October, 7pm
Calling all fabulous women in Basingstoke and beyond! You’re invited to an evening of fashion, empowerment and so much more. Held at Basingstoke Rugby Football Club.
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Forget Me Not Ball
Saturday 25 October, 7pm
Join us at the Old Thorns Hotel in Liphook on an elegant and meaningful night as we come together to raise funds to support those who experience baby loss.
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Upcoming events and meetings
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18 November | 3pm - 5.30pm Council of Governors meeting
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27 November | 10am - 1pm Board of Directors meeting
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If you have any questions or would like further information on Trust meetings, please email company.secretary@hhft.nhs.uk
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Did you know? Hampshire Hospitals members can now access hundreds of discounts and high street offers! Register today with Health Service Discounts via the link below. |
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Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital
Royal Hampshire County Hospital
Andover War Memorial Hospital
www.hampshirehospitals.nhs.uk
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