Claim 413529b7Checked 21 Jul 2026
TrueOn the truth scale
“The hon. Gentleman previously raised this matter with the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s questions.”
—Keir StarmerLabourThe Prime Minister·Engagements·03 Jun 2026Factual · historical current chronological
Reasoning & Evidence21 Jul 2026
Multiple sources confirm that Dr Danny Chambers (Lib Dem MP for Winchester) had previously raised the matter of Winchester hospital services with the Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Questions before the June 3, 2026 exchange.
Dr Chambers raised the issue of Winchester's A&E and consultant-led maternity services at PMQs on October 16, 2024. The Hampshire Chronicle reported that "Dr Chambers raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons today, Wednesday October 16." The Winchester Liberal Democrats website also documented the exchange, noting Chambers "challenged the Prime Minister at PMQs over the future of Winchester Maternity and A&E services." Parallel Parliament and LibDem Voice both record the October 16, 2024 PMQs exchange between Chambers and Starmer, in which Chambers asked for assurances about services remaining at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital and Starmer responded that reconfiguration is a matter for integrated care boards.
The June 3, 2026 exchange (confirmed by Hansard and the Hampshire Chronicle) saw Chambers raise the same hospital issue again, with Starmer noting "I recall that the hon. Gentleman has raised this matter with me previously at Prime Minister's questions." This is an accurate recollection.
Sources:
- Hampshire Chronicle, "Winchester MP raises threat to hospital at Prime Minister's Questions" (October 16, 2024) — https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/24656206.winchester-mp-raises-threat-hospital-prime-ministers-questions/
- Winchester Liberal Democrats, "Danny challenges Keir Starmer on future of Winchester A&E" — https://www.winld.org.uk/news/article/danny-challenges-keir-starmer-on-future-of-winchester-ae
- LibDem Voice, "PMQs: Danny Chambers, Ed Davey and Ben Maguire quiz Starmer" — https://www.libdemvoice.org/pmqs-danny-chambers-ed-davey-and-ben-maguire-quiz-starmer-76321.html
- Parallel Parliament, "Keir Starmer vs Danny Chambers - Debate Excerpts" — https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/mp/keir-starmer/vs/danny-chambers
- Hampshire Chronicle, "Winchester MP urges PM to fix hospital as critical incident declared" (June 3, 2026) — https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/26166103.winchester-mp-urges-pm-fix-hospital-critical-incident-declared/
- UK Parliament Hansard, June 3, 2026 — https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-06-03/debates/051DBB77-8D86-47FD-91B3-95DD68A17CC0/Engagements
From speech
I recall that the hon. Gentleman has raised this matter with me previously at Prime Minister’s questions. As he knows, the reorganisation of services is a matter for local integrated care boards who take decisions based on the evidence and engagement with patients. Across the country, patients are benefiting from the £450 million investment that we have provided to expand urgent and emergency care capacity. That improvement is because of the investment we have put in, but this is a matter for his local board.
Sources opened