SOUTHAMPTON hospitals could be set to take on even more specialist patients after changes to patient care on the Isle of Wight.
Health bosses approved plans this week to move 11 per cent of complex care activity from the island's St Mary's Hospital to the mainland.
Although plans are yet to be finalised, it could see thousands more patients needing special treatment, cared for in Southampton over the coming years.
The plan means that routine care currently carried out on the mainland will instead happen on the island, reducing trips.
The Isle of Wight clinical commissioning group (CCG) said the new system would save £80.6 million over the next 30 years.
Children needing more than 24 hours of care at a hospital would be taken to the mainland, with some exceptions.
A public consultation is likely to be launched towards the end of the year.
A spokesperson for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said: "Although plans remain at an early stage, the provision of healthcare for the island population needs to change, and we are currently working through all of the possible options with our colleagues.
"The care of patients on the Isle of Wight will continue to be extremely important to us, and we look forward to finding a solution that creates a safe and sustainable service for all patients across the south."
Although the CCG said that 11 per cent would be moving to the mainland, that would be reserved for 'complex, urgent care' where the outcome would 'provide better results'.
They also say that the reason for the 'mounting pressures' on the island were as a result of an ageing population, the growing need for complex and specialist care and difficulties recruiting key staff groups.
Dr Michele Legg, chair of the CCG governing body said: "This is about trying to get the balance right – we want to ensure that nobody has to make difficult journeys for hospital care unless they absolutely have to, but at the same time we must also ensure that island residents can get access to the best, safest care when they need it.
"To try and strike that balance, we want to see more routine care provided to a high quality on the island.
"We also accept that, for a small number of patients with certain complex conditions, they will receive better care and results from their treatment from larger, more specialist teams than those we have based on the island."
Over the coming months, the proposals will be further developed and refined with partner NHS organisations and residents.
The specified plans will also be considered by NHS England with a formal public consultation towards the end of 2018.