CHASE Community Hospital could become the envy of north Hampshire when its new eye department is opened next month. The Chase Hospital League of Friends' chairman, John Moody, told The Herald that the hospital's new optical equipment will surpass even that of Basingstoke's North Hampshire Hospital. He said: "At present we have a clinic which was equipped by the League of Friends (LOF), but it can only treat cataracts. "The new equipment will treat glaucoma patients, and we are hoping to get that in place before the end of July. "After which, the surgery will run once a month to begin with because it will have to establish a group of patients and see what the demand is. "We have been told that we should see at least 400 patients by the end of the year, and that would be a boost for the hospital and the LOF shop, which has suffered with the decrease in patients. "So hopefully, we will make a little more money as well." Mr Moody explained that the eye department, at the Bordon hospital in Conde Way, will benefit patients from Alton, as well as those from Bordon and the surrounding area. He said: "Alton did have the machinery but it broke down and has been out of action for more than a year, and our equipment will be more modern than even Basingstoke hospital. "We will be taking in patients from Alton and the surrounding area, because it is more than 20 miles to get to Basingstoke and six from Alton, so it will be much easier for them." He was certain that the Chase would be able to cope with the extra demand, with everything being in place to run it, including a doctor who will travel from Basingstoke each month. The LOF has been supportive of the hospital and has helped to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to supply much-needed equipment. This week it was the turn of the physiotherapy department to benefit to the tune of £2,975, which paid for a pulsed short-wave machine, used to treat acute injuries and help reduce swelling and inflammation. "You can use it for sports injuries and traumas," explained Sarah Coker, senior physiotherapist for outpatients. "It is quite a deep treatment - much deeper than ultrasound." She continued: "It is just another tool in the tool box, which will help to make patients better quicker and get them back to work. It is certainly a great benefit to our physio department. "We have been short-staffed until relatively recently, but the objective is to get in people quickly and do the best we can. "We hope to provide a valuable service to the local community and hopefully that machine will help us to do that. "The League of Friends has been very good to us in the past and we are pleased that it was able to help us again." On the LOF's continued backing of the hospital, Mr Moody added: "The X-ray department cost us more than £100,000, which was raised through the LOF's appeal when it first started, and we are determined to keep financially supporting the hospital. "We try to raise 100 per cent of money needed for various pieces of equipment within the Chase." He also mentioned his nagging concern about the closure of the X-ray department, which is supposed to be a temporary measure. He said: "We have been told that it should reopen in about two weeks. "At the moment our radiographer is working in Alton on its digital facility, which we don't have yet. "But we do believe that it will be upgraded and, when it is, the radiographer will have the knowledge to use it straight away. "Having an X-ray department in Bordon is vital because the facility is generally used by older people and it is hard for them to travel. "If they don't have their transport they will have to rely on buses and the transport links are so poor around here. "If it was at the Chase, people could be out of the doctor's and have an X-ray the same day in a lot of cases, and within an hour in some instances. "We have problems with GPs sending patients to Basingstoke, which is a long trip. If they have no transport how will they get there? Taxis cost a fortune and you can't rely on a bus to take you. That is why Bordon's X-ray department is really beneficial to the community." It was announced at the LOF's recent annual general meeting, that in the past three years, the charity has raised £42,806 for the hospital. Forthcoming fundraising events include a cream- tea afternoon at Lindford's cricket pavilion and a coffee morning at Oak Lodge, in Hendon Road. For further information about the LOF, contact John Moody on 01420 478661.
