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The Andover Advertiser: Sharing your concerns

ANDOVER War Memorial Hospital will have a brand new, £2 million outpatients department by the end of the year.

That was part of health boss Martin Wakeley's promise to Andover' when he spoke at a public meeting organised by the Save Our Services campaign. He told the audience at Andover Baptist Church the current outpatients building was one of the worst I've ever seen'.

"I would be depressed if I were referred to that place," he said. "It's a hut that leaks rain and I don't blame people who say they want to go elsewhere."

His aim was to start work as soon as possible on those areas that were within his control and could be done before the sale of land.

"So my proposal is to have a new outpatients suite before we start talking about getting rid of the old one," he said.

The new unit will be incorporated within the modern part of the hospital near the Minor Injuries Unit.

"People may still choose to go elsewhere," he said. "But I want that to be a choice and not something that is imposed on them because what we've got to offer is second best."

He added: "This my promise to Andover - we are going to have local services so that local people can have there care locally. And if we can't provide services in Andover we'll provide service in Winchester, but it won't cost you or your relatives."

That is because the trust, in partnership with Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, will be providing a free bus shuttle between the two hospitals from June or July.

He was planning to have the memorial stone in the old building at the front of the site incorporated into the new entrance. But he added: "If you are asking me to spend millions on refurbishing the old part of the hospital, there are better things to spend that money on - and actually it's patient care."

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