THE NHS is committed to delivering the best services in Whitehill and Bordon despite ongoing challenges, according to a key provider of local healthcare.

Sara Tiller, managing director of the NHS South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group, spoke to Whitehill Town Council on Monday, October 8.

A fear locally has been that the Chase Hospital might close after the Hampshire Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust said it wanted to relocate services to Alton. As a result, more than 2,000 people have signed a petition calling for better health provision in the town.

Although these clinics are said to be under used, with between just 20 and 25 per cent of the space operational at the Chase, the Commissioning Group reiterated its commitment to service continuity.

Earlier this year, East Hampshire District Council’s portfolio holder for the town Ferris Cowper said the Chase Hospital would inevitably close, to be replaced by a proposed health hub.

Ms Tiller spoke of the “myth and legend” about “what is and isn’t going to happen” to the hospital.

She said: “Our commitment is that it remains open until the new facility is in place. End of.”

“Why can’t the hub be in that building (the Chase)?” councillor Roger Russell wondered. Ms Tiller said this option had been considered but, with modern specifications and necessary reconfiguration work, it was not viable.

As the new facility would not be “anywhere near a functioning Chase Hospital”, Mr Russell wondered if it might be considered a “backwards step” that ultimately delivered “less”.

Councillor Andy Tree felt there was a need for a more positive message from the NHS. He spoke of the 2013 Chase charter, which committed to providing improved services at the hospital. He asked how local people could now believe the NHS’ promises. Ms Tiller said the commitment remained to the services - they would just be delivered in a different place.

“Our vision is to provide a new hub for health and wellbeing in the new town centre,” she said after the meeting. “Our vision is that this hub brings together GP and community services, and other health and wellbeing support in a new, purpose-built facility.

“There is a strong case for change. The local population is due to grow over the next few years but the way we provide healthcare is changing. Increasingly GPs, nurses, therapists and other specialists and community based professionals are coming together to support local people as close to home as possible so they only go to hospital when they need specialist care.

“The local NHS is fully committed to delivering this exciting scheme for people in Whitehill and Bordon and a number of things have already happened.

“We do face a number of challenges - such as the availability of NHS capital and the financial viability for potential tenants in the new hub - but we are working with partners to try to overcome these.

“We have heard concerns from local people about the future of the Chase and I would like to confirm that the hospital will stay open until the new facility is up and running.

“There are a range of services running at the hospital, including physiotherapy, baby and children’s clinics, podiatry, speech and language therapy, sexual health, older people’s mental health, counselling and screening. We expect a decision from NHS England on funding for the new facility next month, after which an outline business case can go to our governing body in December.

“We expect the planning application for the scheme to be submitted later this year and to get a decision on that in May 2019, by which time we would be closer to finalising the services in the new hub.”