AS part of a rolling programme to transform Bordon's "under-used" Chase Community Hospital, the NHS has announced the first major new service likely to be provided there.

Chase Hospital is set to be a centre for a new service for patients who suffer with muscle, bone and joint problems and persistent pain.

The South Eastern Hampshire and Fareham and Gosport clinical commissioning groups plan to procure a new specialist musculoskeletal and integrated persistent pain service to replace the current orthopaedic-choice contract, which exp-ires in a few weeks. After a tendering process, the clinical commissioning groups have identified a preferred bidder, and the community hospital - which serves people across the Whit-ehill and Bordon areas - has been named as one of the new centres for the initiative.

For full story, see this week's Bordon Herald.