NHS
21/07/07
Locally, we in West Sussex have already lost the wonderful King Edward VII Hospital in Midhurst, and we are now faced with the "downgrading" of the following hospitals: Southlands in Shoreham, Worthing and St. Richards in Chichester.
The West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) responsible for running these hospitals blame lack of resources, ie: money.
It is quite indefensible that at a time of rapidly increasing population (with the attendant health threat that uncontrolled immigration poses) we see our local hospitals losing their A&E departments and other key facilities.
30/04/08
Following the "Public Consultation" period, the West Sussex PCT is now considering 3 models of health care:
Model 1: One Major General Hospital (MGH), either Worthing or St Richard's; one Local General Hospital (LGH), either Worthing or St Richard's, whichever is not the MGH; and one Community Hospital (CH) at Princess Royal, Haywards Heath.
Model 2: One Major General Hospital, either Worthing or St Richards, and two Local General Hospitals with no A & E related services.
Model 3: One Major General Hospital and two Local General Hospitals offering some A & E services. Even though this model states that there will be A & E in every hospital, it will still not be at the level that you are currently used to. In fact it will be a Minor Injuries Unit plus a medical assessment unit and walk-in paediatrics. So, for example, if you break your hip, suffer appendicitis, your baby develops bronchiolitis, you have a difficult pregnancy, or you get a blocked gall bladder you will be transferred straight to the Major General Hospital
For full details of the above options please visit:
http://www.southeastcoastfff.nhs.uk/home/west-sussex.aspx
On May 7th at Clair Hall at 10am in Haywards Heath we will be told which model is going to be used for hospital services in West Sussex.
On 4th June at Effingham Hall at 10am, near Crawley we will be told whether St Richard's in Chichester or Worthing Hospital will be made the MGH for West Sussex.
These meetings are open to the public and we would welcome your support at them.