A proposal for major investment at Winchester's main hospital will go ahead if the government approves the project at the NHSE/I Joint Investment Committee.

A new ‘elective hub’ focused on orthopaedic patients at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital is set to be built at the Burrell Wing and operate six days a week.

The meeting which was supposed to be held on May 17 was delayed, and with it the expected approval of the project.

At the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (May 23), Julie Maskery, from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "We expected the panel to meet on May 17. There was a delay, so I was a little bit concerned yesterday, but I’ve been assured that it is on the panel.

"The recommendation is for approval. No other business cases have been declined by the panel, so I’m optimistic that our proposal will be approved."

For her, one of the biggest challenges the proposal will face will be finding construction material prices at a good price.

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She said: "The biggest risk at the moment is the inflation, construction and potentially not getting guaranteed maximum price.

"Accessing extra capital within our system is challenging at the moment. My role with the construction partner is to work to get the best prices on the market. I think the guaranteed maximum prices will be slightly further from the funding approval."

Originally the Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS leaders agreed to build a hub with four theatres and forty-four beds to provide capacity for urology, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), and orthopaedics on the Royal Hampshire County Hospital site in Winchester.

However, as the plans developed, the cost estimates of delivering this scheme became unaffordable with the funding available, so they decided to focus on developing capacity for orthopaedics-only, since it is one of the biggest challenges for the Integrated Care System.

The orthopaedic facility will contain two theatres and a twenty-eight bed in-patient ward with associated facilities. The unit will be built within the Burrell Wing in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

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A separate entrance will be ring-fenced solely to treat elective orthopaedic patients requiring arthroplasty procedures (hip and knee replacements).

It will operate six days a week, with in-patient facilities operating over seven days, and accommodate weekends and extended weekdays to maximise the capacity available.

The Hub will deliver an additional 2,400 procedures each year. Patients will be referred by their GPs to their home Trusts.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust will initially share the Hub.

However, it can provide capacity to the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth University Hospitals NHS Trust in the future.

People at the Orthopaedic Outpatient Facility will receive specialist advice and support, clinical consultation, diagnosis, and treatment planning and delivery for orthopaedic patients.

As well as therapy consultation, diagnosis and treatment in conjunction with a multidisciplinary Allied Health team, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and dietitians, and also the application and removal of plaster casts.

Anticipated dates for the opening are estimated as late 2024.