CIVIC chiefs in Fareham have launched a last-ditch attempt to save the Royal Hospital Haslar - and transform it into a traditional secondary care hospital.

Members of Fareham Council are to challenge Portsmouth Hospitals Trust's plans to transfer all hospital services for the area to a redeveloped Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital in Cosham.

The Trust is just weeks away from signing a financial deal which will see more than £200 million spent on the building project and trigger the final demise of the historic Gosport hospital in 2008.

In a dramatic U-turn, councillors from Fareham have announced they believe a two-site approach is the way forward and facilities at Haslar should complement the new QA rebuild.

Members had suffered a barrage of abuse at public meetings when they supported community hospitals for Fareham and Gosport, rather than the retention of part of the Haslar site for community facilities.

They say that was the best and most cost-effective solution for patients, but now want to push for the use of Haslar as a traditional hospital offering elective surgery and other services.

Civic leader Cllr Sean Woodward will now write to Hampshire's health review committee, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and the Save Haslar Task Force in a bid to restore Haslar.

He said: "We believe that providing community hospitals at Coldeast and Gosport War Memorial will provide the best value community health services for the area. However, we believe that Haslar should be transformed into a traditional NHS secondary care hospital.

"We will be lobbying in January to challenge the bid, which should enable services to be shared between Queen Alexandra Hospital and Haslar, thus providing the best value and combination of facilities for the whole area.

"The QA site cannot cope with all services whereas a two-site solution could work well."

Fareham's representative on the Save Haslar Task Force, Cllr Arthur Mandry, added: "We will endeavour to work closely to challenge Portsmouth Hospitals Trust and ensure that the bid is spent to provide the best for everyone in the area."

But Portsmouth Hospitals Trust spokeswoman Pat Forsyth said that it has already been proven that having two main acute hospitals within close proximity of each other is not viable.

She said: "It's not efficient use of NHS money to duplicate staff, physical facilities and expensive equipment. The design of the new hospital will allow the trust to cope with all acute services, supported by local community hospitals, particularly as it incorporates the feasibility for future growth and demand.

She added: "Under the European Working Time Directive, doctors can't work unlimited hours. To maximise the hours they do work, it is vital to have them working on the one main acute hospital site. The objective of the redevelopment of the QA is to provide the best possible acute care for the local community whilst making best use of the money and resources available."

The Ministry of Defence, who originally intended to leave Haslar in March 2007, have pledged to remain there until the QA rebuild is complete.