[7] In 2013 the trust established a subsidiary company, Hampshire Hospitals Contract Services Limited, to which 5 estates and facilities staff were transferred.

The intention was to achieve VAT benefits, as well as pay bill savings, by recruiting new staff on less expensive non-NHS contracts.

The Value Added Tax Act 1994 provides a mechanism through which NHS trusts can qualify for refunds on contracted out services.

Like many NHS hospitals the Trust has had difficulty in meeting the national target in its emergency department which has seen a rise of nearly 8% in patient numbers in 2014.

[14] In the week leading up to Christmas Day 2022, Hampshire Hospitals declared a critical incident at all sites, and was mirrored by South Central Ambulance Service, due to a high demand of patients seeking urgent and emergency care.