A prospective MP has said she is “hugely concerned” that proposals to close the A&E department in Winchester could have a knock-on impact in Southampton and Eastleigh.

The closure is part of the plans for a new specialist acute hospital on the edge of Basingstoke, using more than £800m in government funding.

Under the plans, which are up for public consultation, the Royal Hampshire County Hospital would be refurbished and a 24/7 urgent treatment centre opened.

Although the current A&E would close under the plans, many services will be kept including same-day emergency care, a planned surgery centre, a birthing unit and outpatient facility. The birthing unit would be led by midwives.

Representatives from Southampton City Council had previously raised concerns over the plans’ impact on Southampton General Hospital's A&E department.

READ MORE: Hampshire politicians react over plans to close city A&E department

Now, Liz Jarvis, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Eastleigh said she is “hugely concerned” residents may have to travel miles and wait even longer for treatment.

She said: "Local NHS services are already overstretched thanks to this Conservative government and I've heard from lots of Eastleigh residents who are very worried about these proposals, which will have a knock on effect on services at the Southampton hospitals. It's hugely concerning.

"It is also a concern that consultant-led maternity care could be affected.

“We cannot have a situation where people are unable to access the emergency care they need or have to travel miles and wait even longer for treatment or where our local NHS services are put under even more strain by the closure of the A&E department at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital."

The NHS is preparing a public consultation in north and middle Hampshire to gather views on how to develop its “brand-new” hospital and make “potential” changes in services.

During the Hampshire County Council Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) revealed plans for a 12-week public consultation that seeks to develop the brand-new hospital in Basingstoke, as well as make potential changes to how Hampshire Hospitals NHS delivers acute services.

ICB officer Charlotte Hutchings previously told councillors the care board was working closely with management of Southampton General about any possible impacts, adding: “It is absolutely in no one’s interest to impact Southampton. This has to be better for the whole of Hampshire.”