Guests enjoy the leaving party for DAvid Noble and Sara Willan. 04/11/04FORMER banker David Noble spoke of his pride this week at the services provided by Salisbury District Hospital and the dedication of its "hard-working and wonderful staff".

He did so as he bowed out after eight years as chairman of Salisbury health care trust - something he did in style by hosting the Duke of York on a visit to the hospital.

Immediately after the royal visit, Mr Noble spoke to the Journal about his tenure as hospital boss.

He said: "Nothing is ever perfect but I believe we in Salisbury have a hospital we can all be proud of.

"I believe I am leaving it in good shape and well-placed to meet the demands of the future.

"It is now a three-star, which puts us among the top hospitals in the country.

"It also puts us on course to becoming a foundation hospital which, in my opinion, will sharpen us up and eventually benefit both patients and staff, as it will give the hospital even greater independence."

Mr Noble spoke of the huge increase in the hospital's workload, with staff seeing 27,166 inpatients so far this year (a 28 per cent rise on 1997/98), 17,468 day cases (a 30 per cent rise), 34,208 accident and emergency patients (a five per cent increase) and 149,045 outpatients (a rise of about seven per cent).

And he hailed the improvement in waiting list times, showing that 97 per cent of patients are now seen within six months with no one waiting more than nine months.

"Our next target is to cut waiting times to 18 weeks from seeing a GP to going on the operating table - and we believe we can do that," he said.

"We have achieved a great deal over recent years and it's all down to the magnificent team work of our consults, doctors, nurses and other staff.

"We are also fortunate to have more than 600 volunteers, who do all sorts of jobs for the hospital.

Mr Noble said many things had given great satisfaction over his years as chairman - none more so than seeing psychiatric patients moved from "appalling" outdated buildings at the Old Manor Hospital into modern accommodation.

He listed a host of other highlights of his eight years, including:

the start of the £24m second phase development of the hospital;

opening of the new £1m cardiac unit;

the choice of Salisbury district hospital as one of two national genetics centres;

the hospital's pioneering of electrical implants to stimulate the paralysed muscles and nerve of some spinal cord injury patients and stroke victims;

the hospital's beacon status as a centre for breast cancer treatment;

a £342,000 investment in creche facilities for the children of staff, increasing the number of places in the day nursery to 105 and making it one of the largest provided by an NHS hospital in the UK;

the £1m refurbishment of the hospital pool and gymnasium;

provision of a £800,000 purpose-built endoscopy treatment centre;

an upgrading of the hospital's maternity services.

On Wednesday last week, the hospital held a retirement party for Mr Noble, who now hopes to spend more time playing golf and fishing.