CANCER and haematology services in north Hampshire have been given a boost with the opening of a new unit at Basingstoke hospital.

The Elizabeth Hall Centre has been part-funded by charities and named in memory of a cancer victim who lived in Hook.

The £500,000 centre, which opened last month, has a 10-bed inpatient ward and an outpatient service for oncology and haematology patients.

It was jointly funded by the Elizabeth Hall Cancer Care Charitable Trust, the Wessex Cancer Trust and North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Jane Hall, from Hook, founded the Elizabeth Hall trust in memory of her daughter, who died of cancer almost five years ago, at the age of 27.

Mrs Hall said: "After Elizabeth died, I wanted to establish something good and positive in her memory. I contacted Basingstoke hospital to discuss the creation of this wonderful new centre and, at long last, we have the reality."

Miss Hall was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in December 1999.

Despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she died in July 2000.

Speaking about the centre, Mrs Hall said: "Everything is bright, fresh and uplifting and the rooms are spacious and hi-tech.

"I know this centre will be of benefit to so many local cancer patients and I know Elizabeth would approve."

Mary Edwards, chief executive of North Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We are thrilled with this new facility and believe it will make a huge difference to our patients and their families.

"The investment of nearly £500,000 has resulted in this excellent patient-centred unit, and we thank the Elizabeth Hall trust and the Wessex Cancer Trust for their hard work, generosity and ongoing support."