PRIME Minister Tony Blair has agreed to look into the proposals to axe all the beds at the Chase Community Hospital, as campaigners continue their fight to save the hospitalÕs only ward.

The pledge came during Prime MinisterÕs question time last Wednesday when BordonÕs MP, James Arbuthnot, brought the hospitalÕs plight to Mr BlairÕs attention.

Mr Arbuthnot said: ÒNursing homes are closing all over the country because of new government regulations and as a result, patients are blocking hospital beds when they could be cared for better elsewhere.

ÒChase Hospital in Bordon, in my constituency, is consequently in danger of losing beds.

ÒDoes the Prime Minister agree that that is unacceptable, and will he look into it?Ó

Mr Blair answered by saying that the whole issue of bed blocking was one which the government intended to look at, but that the government had ploughed extra cash into tackling the problem.

He also agreed to look into the issues surrounding the proposals for the Chase Community Hospital.

He said: ÒIt is true that some private nursing homes are closing. As they will tell the right honourable gentleman, that is largely because of their worry about the level of fees.

ÒIt is absolutely true that unless we have proper provision out in the community there is greater pressure on hospital beds.

ÒAgain, it is precisely for that reason that just a short time ago we announced still more money for social services, nursing homes and the National Health Service.Ó

Mr Arbuthnot told The Herald: ÒI am glad the Prime Minister has agreed to look into this vital local issue.

ÒThe closure of nursing homes is one of the things that is putting intolerable pressure on the health service in North East Hampshire. And the suggestion that it should result in the closure of beds at Chase Hospital is quite unacceptable, as I told the Prime Minister.

ÒUnfortunately the closure of nursing homes is not the only problem for the NHS in the area.

ÒWe are also suffering from an unfair health funding formula. We get only 83 per cent of the average health funding for the country. That is the lowest in the country.

ÒIf you add to that the problem that the government is not properly funding increases in prescription costs - which rose by 11 per cent last year while the government funded an increase of only 3 per cent - you have a potential health crisis in the making.

ÒI am writing to the Prime Minister to reinforce these points.Ó

Campaigners were pleased that the Chase Community Hospital proposals had beenbrought to the nationÕs attention.

Liphook doctor Helen Walters said: ÒThe answer from Blair doesnÕt say much, but the mere fact that it has come up is very important and will make things embarrassing for the health authority.Ó

Dr Walters told The Herald that campaigners intend to continue to deliver thousands of leaflets to local residents in a bid to drum up support to save the 16 beds which will be lost as part of a plan to save around £2 million in north Hampshire.

Campaigners are also hoping that residents will write to the health authority expressing their disgust at the plans and that they will attend a public meeting on January 17.

Copies of the consultation document are available on the North and Mid Hampshire Health AuthorityÕs website at http://www.hants.gov.uk/nmhha">http://www.hants.gov.uk/nmhha.

Anyone wishing to make comments on the proposals can write to the authorityÕs chief executive Gareth Cruddace by January 31 at the North and Mid Hampshire Health Authority, Harness House, Aldermaston Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 9NB.