HEALTH chiefs examining the future of a Hampshire hospital are facing calls to reopen a facility that treated about 2,500 patients a year.

Hampshire Community Health Care (HCHC) is carrying out a consultation exercise on Hythe Hospital following the controversial closure of all 16 in-patient beds last May.

People taking part in the first phase of the project were asked what services should be provided at the hospital when it reopens.

Almost 90 per cent of respondents said NHS bosses should reinstate the hospital’s minor injuries unit, which shut in 2003.

The consultation, which began two months ago, was raised at a meeting of district councillors.

Councillor Maureen Robinson said: “Residents have been concerned and suspicious about the future of Hythe Hospital for some time. Several changes have been carried out over the years, some of which were implemented rather surreptitiously.”

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Cllr Robinson, who represents Hythe, said villagers were strongly in favour of the minor injuries unit being reopened.

She added: “People would also like to see the beds reinstated and an extension of diagnostic services. When the beds will be reinstated is still very unclear.

However the health services see a future for Hythe Hospital and want to make it happen.”

The beds closed following staff shortages and problems with infection control.

They were due to reopen at the end of last August. However, the problems facing the in-patient ward were greater than expected and health chiefs decided to keep it closed until a permanent solution was found.

The consultation exercise has so far resulted in more than 200 responses.

A report produced by HCHC says people taking in the survey were asked what out-patient services should be provided at the hospital.

The report says: “The highest request –89 per cent was for minor injuries followed by more diagnostic services – 85 per cent. Improved chronic illness management was the third most important followed by more outpatient clinics.”

A HCHC spokesman said: “The report highlights a variety of services that the public would like to see at Hythe Hospital.

“The next stage is to take this feedback and incorporate it into the developing plans, which we will again be talking about with the public shortly.

“At this stage there are no indications of what services will be provided but we are in continuous dialogue with the community about the future of the site.

“It is clear that the hospital will remain and will be a thriving health facility.”