Supporters of a community hospital have pledged to continue their fundraising despite it being forced to shut next month.
The Odiham Cottage Hospital shop on the High Street, run by the League of Friends, will remain open for business after the hospital closes.
Shop manager Audrey Shelbourn said: “We did wonder at one stage whether we’d have to close, but now we’re definitely staying here.
“On hearing about the hospital, our customers were concerned because they love this shop, but we are fighting on.”
The shop, which opened in 2004, sells clothes, shoes, books and children’s toys, raising thousands of pounds each year for hospital owners, Odiham Cottage Hospital Charitable Trust.
And Mrs Shelbourn added that community support remains strong and the shelves remain stacked.
Michael Marchant, treasurer of the League of Friends, said: “A lot of local people like the shop because it provides good bargains.
“We think it is important to keep it going, partly to let people know we’re not giving up.”
Cash raised will be used to maintain the hospital building which will be mothballed after closure.
Mr Marchant said: “If there is a requirement for the hospital to go on then we will go on supporting it. But if not, we will still be involved in maintaining the building, even after its closure.”
The 108-year-old hospital has 12 beds and employs 25 part-time nurses.
It provides round-the-clock nursing and GP support for sick patients from Odiham, Old Basing, Hartley Wintney and Hook.
On May 26, NHS Hampshire, which runs the hospital on behalf on the trust, said it would withdraw the centre’s nursing contract on July 31.
In a statement, NHS Hampshire said risks to patient safety and difficulties in staffing the hospital were the main reasons behind the move.
But hospital supporters remain hopeful that a new future can be secured by September this year when North Hampshire GP consortia Calleva publishes a review into community care.
Ginny East, secretary of Odiham Cottage Hospital Charitable Trust, said: “Calleva are currently reviewing the need for local beds and that may provide a role for our hospital in the future.
“We are hoping that this will be only a temporary closure.
“Whatever the outcome, we will of course, continue to work to seek a solution whereby the hospital and the charity can support the needs of our community.”
