QUESTIONS have been raised about a survey that will help determine the future of Odiham Cottage Hospital.

The charity-owned 12-bed hospital, in Buryfields, has been told that the NHS nursing contract on which it relies will not be extended beyond July 31 due to difficulties in recruiting agency staff.

Two representatives from NHS Hampshire, which funds primary care services in the county, spoke at a meeting of Odiham Parish Council on Monday.

The meeting heard that it may be possible to find another nursing provider, but the hospital may have to become a rehabilitation facility or a centre for injured soldiers.

Mel McKeown, NHS Hampshire head of communication and engagement, said that a six-week survey was about to start to ask people in north Hampshire what they would like to see at the hospital.

She said: “The reason we have to be so rapid is because we have got July 31 as a deadline. We know it’s not ideal but what we need to do is to make it work in the best possible way.”

But many of the 15 members of the public at the meeting queried the consultation process.

Former parish councillor Roger Jones questioned using Hampshire LINk, an organisation part-funded by NHS Hampshire, to do the survey.

He added: “We have been on a five-year cycle for the past 100 years that someone is going to close the hospital.

“There’s a lack of trust in the community towards the NHS. You have got to build up the confidence of the community in the NHS and its satellite organisations.”

John Fleming, husband of parish council vice-chairman Councillor Helen Fleming, said he hoped there were no leading questions on the survey.

Sarah Elliott, NHS Hampshire director of commissioning, said: “I appreciate the level of investment and funding and engagement that this community has put into Odiham Cottage Hospital, and therefore why you do not trust the NHS. I hope you can see this is not a decision to close the |hospital. We hope that through this process we can rebuild a bit of trust.”

Mrs Elliott added that the final decision on the hospital’s fate will be taken by the board of NHS Hampshire.