ALL four wards at Farnham Hospital were filled for the first time in eight years last winter, dispelling fears about the hospital’s viability.

The future of the community hospital and centre for health in Hale Road was brought into question last year following the closure of its “jewel in the crown” renal dialysis unit.

However, the Friends of Farnham Hospital and Centre for Health held its 2016 annual meeting in good spirits following “a very successful and active year”.

According to the Friends, Virgin Healthcare has brought more jobs to the hospital after signing a five-year contract to deliver community services in Farnham in 2012, and the hospital is now being “properly used”.

However, a complication arising from this increased activity is that parking is becoming a key issue at the hospital.

Chairman of the Friends, Diana Martin, said: “This needs to be addressed if patients are to get satisfactory access and more jobs are to be brought to the Farnham site.

“There is space in the building for additional services to be provided if this can be addressed.”

Mrs Martin led the annual meeting, and also recounted the range of activities carried out by the friends during the year.

Highlights included the delivery of presents to the in-patients at Christmas and the tea tent at Music in the Meadow in the summer. Both will be repeated again in 2016.

An example of the new portable telephones mounted on trolleys for the use of patients was displayed as well as pictures of the new overhead Sky-factory picture lights in the dental unit.

Treasurer Michael Cox was also pleased to be able to present a stable financial position.

Representatives of many of the Friends’ key local partners such as the North East Hampshire and Farnham NHS Clinical Commissioning Group were present and Richard Comerford, the director of operations for Virgin Healthcare gave a talk about the integration of health systems in the area which was well received.