HEALTH bosses are spending £200,000 up-grading diagnostic facilities at Andover War Memorial Hosp-ital.

The endoscopy suite - where colonoscopy, cystoscopy or gastroscopy investigations are carried out - is being refurbished with a view to reopening in October.

Until then patients from the Andover area will be seen at Winchester where they will be treated in the NHS Treatment Centre.

Martin Wakeley, chief executive of the Win-chester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "The facilities at Winchester are excellent and we want to bring those in Andover up to the same standard.

"The equipment there, whilst still working, is getting past its best and so we have decided to replace it all rather than take a piece-meal approach or be faced with having to make repairs in years to come.

"The work should take around 10 weeks and is another signal of our intent to provide first class facilities in Andover."

About 50 patients will be offered appointments in Winchester.

Approximately 20 who already have fixed appointments will be offered the same slot but in Winchester.

Anyone requiring an urgent endoscopy will be seen as quickly as they would have been at Andover.

There is a free bus service in place for all patients travelling between Ando-ver and Winchester.

It's also free to people who are accompanying them.