Earlier this year, Hampshire Hospitals appointed Helen Toomer-Jones as its first All Age Autism Specialist Lead, a post made possible thanks to Hampshire Hospitals Charity and generous donations from the local community.

The Peritoneal Malignancy Institute (PMI) specialises in the surgical treatment of patients with tumours and cancer that has spread to the peritoneum (a continuous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers the abdominal organs), and Basingstoke is one of few places across the country that offers this type of surgery.

Those recorded as having autism has changed dramatically in recent years, likely to be due to improved recognition and recording. In 2023 the number registered with Hampshire Hospitals stood at just under 3,000. There is therefore a growing need to ensure our services are accessible an appropriate for this growing patient number.