Resident wants to start petition on A&E

Hilsea resident Jennie Pope wants to set up the petition to help improve Queen Alexandra Hospital’s emergency department.

She said: ‘I want to bring a petition to the government and the Department of Health so they can see what is happening.

‘It would be good to get support from MPs and councillors in setting up a petition because I do think it needs some weight behind it.’

Ms Pope said that ideally, she would like to petition 
to see The Royal Hospital Haslar, in Gosport, reopened with an emergency department.

It was closed in 2009 and plans are in place for it be redeveloped into a mixed site.

But she said the chance of that happening was slim.

‘It is crucial that we have an A&E department in most areas,’ she said.

‘Gosport is a long way from QA and a hospital in the Fareham and Gosport area would probably help a lot.

‘I cannot see Haslar opening but if it could, that would be the first step to easing pressure at QA.

‘It never should have been closed in the first place.’