THE organisation set up three year ago to save services at Andover hospital has thrown its weight behind the new trust boss.

Save Our Services - set up in 2005 by Mr Derek Robinson, who later died of cancer - fought long and hard to maintain services at Andover War Memorial Hospital as they began to drift away to Winchester.

Now SOS committee member Brian Robinson, brother of Derek, is pleased with the way the new chief executive of the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, Mr Martin Wakeley, has supported Andover even before a final decision is taken on the hospital's reconfiguration.

With the trust flying in South African surgeons and anaesthetists to reintroduce general anaesthetic day surgery and plans for a new bus service between Andover and Winchester, paid for by the trust, things are looking up for the hospital.

Mr Wakeley has also promised the out-patients department will be relocated from its present dilapidated building to within the main hospital by the summer.

Now he has accepted an invitation from SOS to attend a public meeting in Andover in April or early May to outline his vision for Andover.

Referring to the bus service Mr Robinson said he hoped that people would use it when it was up and running. "Use it or lose it," he said.

He added: "Having spoken to Martin he has made it clear that Andover is a major and integral part of the way the trust wants to work with Winchester and Andover.

"And anyone with fears of our hospital being closed can rest safe in their beds Mr Wakeley has no intention of doing that. What he wants to do is expand services."