PATIENTS are still not being treated at the new £17 million Farnham Hospital more than a year after they were meant to be.
A year ago this week, we reported that the new 84-bed hospital's first services were scheduled to be up and running on August 18 this year.
But following recent delays, a spokesman for the Guildford and Waverley Primary Care Trust said construction work on the building is finished but the trust is "finalising the legal processes now for occupation of the building which will be in stages as originally planned".
This process will take until the end of the year.
As well as 84 inpatient beds, the hospital will house the three GP practices currently at the Farnham Health Centre in Brightwell Road, and offer 24-hour emergency care, children's services, care for dementia patients and telemedicine, which will allow doctors to send X-rays to consultants for examination at other hospitals.
l Herald readers can still help equip the new hospital with 24 high-tech beds.
The Farnham Lions has so far raised £18,000 towards the £25,000 appeal.
The beds have a mattress split into sections which can be adjusted electronically for comfort, medical reasons, or to ease getting out of bed.
Farnham Lions stress that people wishing to make a donation do not have to give a lot, just as much as they can afford, and because the Lions, as a charity, gets tax relief, more money raised goes to the appeal.
Anyone wishing to make a donation should make cheques payable to Farnham Lions Bed Appeal and send them to Geoff Jeal, 5 Fairview Gardens, Farnham, Surrey GU9 ONG.