HEALTH bosses have admitted that there are no plans to open a minor injuries unit at an under-used hospital.

Politicians in Fareham have branded the current service a “disgrace” ahead of a public meeting tonight.

Leaders from Southern Health, Portsmouth Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Fareham and Gosport CCG will meet politicians at Fareham Community Hospital (FCH) to lock horns on healthcare in the borough.

Ahead of the meeting, Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been slammed for not investing enough in services in the borough.

Only 40 per cent of the physical space at the existing service, FCH, is currently used. The hospital, which was built at a cost of £10m in 2010, provides mental health care for the elderly, physiotherapy, outpatient services and occupational therapy. But it does not offer services including maternity or a minor injuries unit.

Councillor Sean Woodward, leader of Fareham Borough Council, described the current offering as a “joke” and a “disgrace”.

He said: “Most importantly, we need a minor injuries unit. The majority of patients who go to A&E go because they are suffering from minor injuries and these could all be dealt with locally by adding a facility at the hospital, there certainly is space.”

But health chiefs are remaining sceptical and insisted there is no funding available to expand the hospital to include a minor injury unit, maternity or elderly care.

Andrew Wood, chief financial officer of the Fareham and Gosport CCG, said: “The hospital was never designed to have beds. It would involve a significant redevelopment costing many millions of pounds for this to happen, which is money the local health system simply does not have at present.

“We feel the Fareham area is well-served by local health services but we are always looking to improve services where we can.”

The meeting starts at 6.30pm tonight and is open to the public.