A new hospital is to be built in Hampshire as part of a £3.7 billion government funding package.

Boris Johnson confirmed the news earlier this month during the Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "I love the NHS and I will do all I can to make sure it is there for you and your family over the years to come. The biggest hospital building programme in a generation will help protect the NHS long into the future."

This is all we know about the new hospital so far:

When will it be built?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed funding for 40 hospitals across England, to be built by 2030.

However, no further details were given in terms of timeframe for this work to be carried out.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust indicated they hope work will begin on the new hospital as early as 2024/2025.

Why are they building a new hospital?

 the government said the funding package would “ensure the NHS can continue to provide world-class care right across the country in the years to come”.

Boris Johnson added: “The dedication and tireless efforts of our nurses, doctors and all healthcare workers have kept the NHS open throughout this pandemic.

“But no matter what this virus throws at us, we are determined to build back better and deliver the biggest hospital building programme in a generation.

“From Morpeth to Milton Keynes, we are building 40 new hospitals across England to level up our NHS so more people have top-class healthcare services in their local area.”

Where will it be built?

Two options for the future of north and mid Hampshire's hospital services have been discounted.

The Trust insists six options remain under consideration by health bosses, which include building a new hospital site somewhere in the county.

But the Gazette revealed that a ‘preferred option’ appears to already have been chosen, according to meeting papers.

Papers for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s board of directors' meeting suggest that it has already decided on a “preferred way forward” on spending the funding, which is part of a package worth £3.7 billion from the government for 40 hospitals in England.

The papers for the meeting on September 24, give a deadline for finalising the “preferred way forward” and other selected options by September 15, and that an Options Development Group should “further pursue” this option plus another four, raising questions over what has happened to the sixth option.

It also published a risk assessment which has been reported to the Department for Health and Social Care, identifying the “key top-level risks” associated with the project.

The first risk was identified as “potential outcome of public consultation leading to challenge and judicial review” with the cause listed as “potential movement of services and new site location may not be seen as acceptable by the public”.

To mitigate the risk, it said: “Ensure all legal and specialist advice is being sought to support public consultation.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire Together said: “Neither the location of any new facility, nor the make-up of services provided there, will be decided ahead of a period of formal public consultation, due to take place early next year.”

The Gazette has asked which option is the preferred way forward but is yet to receive a response.