HOSPITAL chiefs have displayed early designs for a £168.5 million complex which could revolutionise healthcare in Winchester.

A new critical treatment hospital and cancer treatment centre would treat thousands of critically ill patients in central Hampshire and move some emergency services out of Winchester and Basingstoke.

Plans for the 10-acre site, on green fields near North Waltham, went on show at an exhibition this week.

The £150 million critical treatment hospital would be one of two in England and the first to offer 24-hour consultant care.

Wednesday’s exhibition also revealed designs for an £18.5 million cancer treatment centre, which will centralise chemotherapy, radiotherapy and outpatient service.

The plans have sparked fears for the future of maternity services and accident and emergency at Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Jackie Porter has launched a petition of 2,000 signatures demanding maternity consultants stay at the RHCH.

The plans were revised in 2013 to welcome low-risk mothers after pressure from obstetricians, according to Hampshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s maternity lead Michael Heard.

He said the new complex will prevent emergency care from being sucked into distant units in Southampton and Frimley, Surrey, adding that maternity care will suffer if it is not built.

 “If we don't do this, it's very unlikely that central Hampshire will have two neo-natal units and two intensive care units,” he said.

“It's really difficult to recruit staff because they don't want to be in a little unit and do very little.

“We're very irritated by Jackie Porter launching her campaign,” he added, “but she's got an election to win and it's a very big vote winner.”

Health chiefs had previously considered launching a counter-campaign to rebuff the county councillor's claims, he said.

More than 100 residents visited the Basingstoke exhibition, with many from nearby villages raising concerns over noise, traffic and erosion of countryside.

Mary Edwards, chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said local opinion would be taken on board before the final designs and planning applications are submitted.

Building work on the emergency hospital is expected to begin next year. The facility could open by the end of 2018, with the cancer centre expected to open in the following year.