THE new-look Chase Community Hospital will be completed and officially opened on April 1, 2004, health bosses have confirmed.
Extra details have been released about the future of the hospital and the process it will go through to become the first Primary Care Diagnostic and Treatment Centre (PCDTC) in the country, with a pioneering new-look ward.
The new 24-bed ward will house 12 intermediate care beds and 12 nursing home beds and will be the first of its kind in the country.
The design of the new ward is being developed with the help of social services.
The North Hampshire Primary Care Trust, which runs the hospital, has announced that the MacIlwain ward will close its doors on December 31 this year.
It will be decommissioned in January and February 2003 with building work, lasting around eight months, beginning on March 1 2003.
The new ward will officially reopen on April 1, 2004.
In the meantime flexible GP-led sigmoidoscopy services will begin at the hospital on Tuesday to form the first new service which the Bordon hospital will provide as part of its PCDTC role.
Vascular assessment services will also be provided at the hospital starting next month and plans for a range of other services including medical day assessment, diabetes clinic and a minor injuries clinic will also be phased in.
A ministerial visit is also planned later this year.
The chairman of the Chase League of Friends, which raises money for the hospital, John Mood,y told The Herald that it was great to know what was happening.
ÒThis is all really good news and hopefully it will make the hospital feel a lot busier,Ó he said.
ÒNow we know what is going on we can raise some money for new equipment for the new MacIlwain ward, the care home part of the hospital and the new diagnostic centre.Ó