A Parliamentary debate on February 10 and 11, 2026, highlighted that the Oak Park Community Clinic in Havant, on the Portsmouth border, is struggling to manage a surge in patients, causing a 22 per cent increase in hospital referrals. This pressure is placing a significant burden on Queen Alexandra Hospital as the clinic sends more people to the emergency department due to a lack of specialised diagnostic equipment and senior staff.
The facility is currently referring complex or time-consuming cases to the main hospital in Cosham rather than treating them on-site. This shift is happening because the clinic lacks enough senior doctors and the proper medical tools needed to handle more difficult health problems. Officials noted during the debate that the clinic was originally meant to take the weight off the hospital, but it is now often acting as a transit hub for patients.
Data from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board shows that the demand for local health services has risen as more people move to the area. The closure of several local GP surgeries in recent years has also forced the clinic to take on more patients than it was originally built to handle. This has made it harder for residents to get the care they need close to home.
A review by the Care Quality Commission previously raised concerns about staffing levels at the site. Local health watchdogs noted that residents who go to the clinic for help often end up waiting for 12-hour stays at the hospital in Cosham instead. Residents are being warned that these ongoing pressures could lead to longer wait times for routine appointments and more frequent trips to the hospital for non-emergency care.
