CAMPAIGNERS who were hoping that old legal agreements would de-rail the changes to the Chase Community Hospital had their hopes dashed when it was revealed that the agreement had been altered.

At a recent public meeting to discuss the health authorityÕs plans to close the MacIlwain ward, campaigner Rev Hazel OÕSullivan brought to the attention of health bosses a clause from the legal agreement which was signed when the land where the Chase Hospital stands was first bought.

The clause bound the health authority Ònot to carry on any trade, manufacture or profession whatsoever upon the property or any part thereof nor to use the same otherwise than as a community hospital and ambulance stationÓ.

Campaigners were hopeful that it would force the North and Mid Hampshire Health Authority and the North Hampshire Primary Care Trust to ditch their cost-cutting measures at the Chase on the basis that Òa hospital is not a hospital without bedsÓ.

However, director of planning at the NHPCT Peter Kelly told The Herald that legal experts have confirmed that the legal agreement had changed since it was signed in the 1980s.

He said: ÒIt has been confirmed that the covenant was lifted in 1999 so that part no longer applies.Ó

If the legal agreement hadstill been in place, it could have caused problems if the health authority went ahead with the closure plans.

It also had the potential to halt possible new plans for a refurbished 24-bed ward which would house 12 intermediate care beds and 12 nursing home beds because the new plans would effectively mean that half of the ward would become a nursing home.

However, with this obstacle out of the way, the NMHHA and NHPCT only need to worry about securing the £1.5 million of funding to create 53 intermediate care beds in north Hampshire - including the proposed 12 at the Chase.

A decision on the funding was expected to be announced yesterday (Thursday).

Campaigners were disappointed by the news that the legal agreements will not prevent the plans to close the ward from going ahead.

Rev Hazel OÕSullivan, vicar at St MarkÕs Shared Church, said: ÒThe news that the agreement has been lifted is deeply disappointing, particularly in view of the fact that I went to great lengths to obtain written support from the trustees before airing the clause in public.

ÒIn talking to the trustee who wrote the supporting letter, he recalled the reference to the ambulance station being lifted and it is clear that he had never envisaged the possibility of the hospital ceasing to operate as a result.

ÒThe positive outcome is that when the clause was lifted it allowed the building of the spanking new Forest Surgery.

ÒThe campaign to keep the hospital open continues. While the new suggestion of nursing home facilities is a positive move, in the end it is the recognition by the health service of our vital need for intermediate care hospital services that should win the day.

ÒLegal loopholes are, after all, always open to challenge and overturning. To have the hospital remain open with the full support of the health authority and working more effectively for the growing population, has always been our aim.Ó

She was also hopeful for a large turnout to the crucial meeting at which the fate of the hospital could be decided

The North and Mid Hampshire Health AuthorityÕs board meeting on Tuesday, February 5, has been moved from Basingstoke to St MarkÕs Shared Church in Pinehill Road following an outcry from local residents.

Residents had asked health chiefs how Bordon people were supposed to make the trip to the health authorityÕs headquarters in Basingstoke without special transport being laid on and campaigners were putting together plans to hire mini -buses to take residents to the meeting.

Rev OÕSullivan said: ÒWe need Bordon folk to turn out in droves one more time.

ÒWe are hoping for a large turnout at the public board meeting in St MarkÕs next week although we will only be able to speak at the discretion of the chairman.Ó

At TuesdayÕs meeting the board will agree whether or not to go ahead with the plans which will mean that eight EMI (Elderly Mentally Infirm) beds will be transferred to Basingstoke, and the remaining 16 beds will close and be replaced with a Community Intensive Support Service.

If the NMHHA and NHPCT discover that it has been successful with its £1.5 government funding bid, then the board could agree to defer its original plans and instead put the new plans for the intermediate care and nursing beds out to formal public consultation.

But if they receive bad news, then the future of the ward and the hospital is uncertain.

p The meeting in St Marks Shared Church on February 5 will begin at 10-30 am.