Local MP for South West Surrey Jeremy Hunt has written to the Chief Executive of Virgin Care, Bart Johnson, following news that they are to temporarily close the inpatient beds at Haslemere hospital from January order to finish vital repair work on the building. The £2.2 million investment will see improvements made to the roof and the heating and it is felt that in order to get this done as fast as possible it would be best to relocate inpatients to Farnham. In his email Jeremy has asked for Mr Johnson’s assurance that the beds will reopen as soon as possible and has asked ideally for a set date as to when patients can expect to be readmitted there. Whilst the work is undertaken the walk in centre and all outpatient services will continue to run as normal.
Jeremy said: “These improvements are much needed and will ensure our much loved community hospital building is up to scratch. I hope that by moving current inpatients to Farnham this will mean the work is undertaken quickly and efficiently and that before we know it the beds at Haslemere are at full capacity again. However given the many worries there have been over the years regarding the hospital, I have written to Virgin Care and look forward to receiving their written assurance about its future”.