ALMOST a year after his arrival as Winchester and Eastleigh NHS Trust chief executive, Martin Wakeley told Andover hospital volunteers the promises made a year ago in respect of Andover are being honoured.

"We are putting the money where our mouth is," he said. "We said we would provide transport between here and Winchester hospital and it has happened.

"We now have 500 people a month using the bus service which I think is fantastic. Now Romsey would like something similar."

Endoscopy facilities are also about to be radically improved at Andover War Memorial via a major investment as well as a new outpatients department.

"The deal we make with you volunteers is you give up the time and energy to look after the hospital and our responsibility is to provide the facilities and support of the management team so you can continue."

Andover's hospital has around 100 of its own volunteers who spend their time on a very wide variety of tasks to help the trust's finances and to improve the quality of life for patients.

The volunteers were rewarded by a tea party at the hospital, which enabled them to get together.

Their tasks range from providing a newspaper and trolley service for patients and raising money for hospital charities to providing tea and coffee for staff at the hospital and providing comfort and support to patients.

While the hospital has 100 volunteers it would always welcome more.