A WORKSHOP to help shape the future of the Chase Hospital and discuss current issues will be held there on Wednesday, June 27. The workshop has been set-up to agree priorities for the hospital and is a follow up from urgent talks organised by county councillor Adam Carew in April. The meeting will involve local stakeholders, GPs, staff and patient representatives. Commenting Adam Carew said: "We had a very positive meeting with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) earlier this year and agreed to meet on a regular basis to monitor progress. "The workshop is an upshot from those talks. It is an exciting opportunity for our community to work closely with the PCT, to look at issues and help shape the future of the hospital." The meeting is good news for local residents, as there are still concerns that the Chase is not being used to its full potential. In April, the PCT said that they were taking these concerns seriously. Mr Carew added: "We feel that there are many more services that could be provided at the Chase such as diabetes clinics, blood transfusions and intravenous antibiotics. As the town expands we would also like to see a minor injuries unit." When the MoD pull to out in 2012/3, it is thought that 4-5,500 new houses will be built on vacated brownfield sites, doubling the size of Whitehill and Bordon's population This would lead to increased demand for a facility such as Chase Hospital. It is hoped the meeting will give an update on staffing levels and the urgent issue regarding the possible loss of the pain consultant. In addition it is hoped that discussions will be made about new arrangements which give local GPs more control over local services and it is possible that this new system might help provide additional services, from a range of health care professionals including doctors, physiotherapists and specialist nurses Mr Carew concluded: "We are very lucky to have the Chase Hospital in Bordon, it is a wonderful local facility and people have fought very hard to keep it. "There are no plans to close the hospital whatsoever, rather we want it to go from strength to strength. "Everyone is agreed that we want to see real results and we will be making sure that the PCT delivers them."
