THE Friends of the Royston & District Hospital are optimistic about its future. Friends chairman Dr John Hedges told the group s annual meeting on Friday evening that the future of the hospital was looking more positive . His words came in a week when

THE Friends of the Royston & District Hospital are "optimistic" about its future.

Friends chairman Dr John Hedges told the group's annual meeting on Friday evening that the future of the hospital was looking more "positive".

His words came in a week when work on the refurbishment of the outside of the building and the installation of new equipment was taking place.

For the past decade there have been doubts over the future of the hospital - and a number of plans drawn up for its future.

These now seem to have been shelved by the East & North Herts NHS Trust.

"A couple of years ago there may have been a reason for closing the hospital, but now money is being put into the building," said Dr Hedges.

The refurbishment work on the hospital is expected to last until next month.

In his annual report, Dr Hedges said that in the past year there were 151 in-patient admissions with 60 per cent being discharged.

"The hospital's 18 in-patient beds have been used solely for the care of local residents needing community care, rehabilitation after acute hospital admission or end of life palliative care," he said.

Dr Hedges continued that the out-patients clinics were "thriving" and a new clinic to screen diabetic patients for early signs of eye disease is to be established during the year.

He added that the past 12 months had been less "anxious" than in the past.