DIAGNOSTIC testing and elective surgery are beginning to resume at Basingstoke hospital, after it announced it is a Covid-free site.

As previously reported in the Gazette, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) announced on June 19 that all three of its hospitals were Covid-free, with no Covid positive patients at Basingstoke, Andover or Winchester for the first time since lockdown.

Now, the trust has announced that it is “gradually resuming other services” including elective surgery and diagnostic testing.

Dr Lara Alloway, chief medical officer at HHFT, said: “For some, coming into hospital may look a bit different as we have put additional steps in place to keep our patients and staff safe.

"What has remained throughout is the care our teams have shown as they go above and beyond for our patients, and will continue to do so as we progress into these new ways of working.”

Some patients have been asked to wait inside their car upon arrival at hospital, and to only enter the building once they receive a phone call inviting them inside for their appointment.