by Jo Charlton

joanne.charlton@essnmedia.co.uk

Mayday Hospital's chief executive has offered to find room at the site for a drop-in centre for war heroes.

Suez veteran Michael Lyons has long been campaigning for the hospital to help him establish somewhere that soldiers past and present can meet and discuss their experiences.

And now he has got the news he has been hoping for after hospital boss Nick Hulme stepped in.

However, the emphasis is now on Mr Lyons making it happen, as Mayday says he will need to provide all the necessary funding.

He remains confident he can do this, though, with local school children having vowed to help him raise funds and run the service.

Mr Lyons, who is chair of the New Addington British Legion, said: "It is this year's remembrance gift to the British Legion."

He started campaigning for the service at the beginning of last year after seeing a distressed soldier in Mayday's A&E department.

"There are lots of soldiers suffering in Croydon," he explained.

"It will give them somewhere they can talk to someone, have a cup of tea, and watch the telly.

"If they need to come to the hospital it will be somewhere to wait away from prying eyes."

Mr Lyons already has a string of volunteers lined up to raise cash and give up their time, including Addington High pupils and local Cadet groups.

Reverend Steven Calander, who has himself suffered from severe post traumatic stress disorder, has offered to be chaplain for the centre.

He hopes his own experience will help him relate to traumatised soldiers who may come to the drop-in centre.

"When I was ill I would have found it very useful because you don't necessarily want a clinical environment all the time," he said.

"All sorts of normal things to a well person can seem impossible for someone who is unwell."

Mr Hulme sent Mr Lyons a letter informing him of the good news.

It said: "We can offer space in the hospital, however we could not offer staff or resources as we are not commissioned to provide these services."

The next stage is for Mr Lyons to set up a business plan and decide how much space is needed before negotiations can begin over exactly where in the hospital the centre would be.