Government considers intervention over West Sussex village hospital closure after MP pressure

That’s according to Alison Griffiths, MP for Littlehampton Bognor Regis, who made a formal request for the decision to close and sell the West Sussex village hospital to be reviewed.

The hospital – in Glenville Road, Rustington – was temporarily closed at the end of 2023, due to significant estates issues that affected the condition and safety of the building.

Following sustained pressure from the Member of Parliament and local campaigners, the Department of Health and Social Care is said to be examining whether to use statutory powers to ‘call in’ the decision, which saw services, originally described as temporarily closed, later made permanent.

In a letter to Mrs Griffiths, Karin Smyth – the Minister of State for Health – confirmed officials have been asked to advise the Secretary of State on whether intervention is appropriate. The department will now assess the case and may request further information before reaching a decision.

Mrs Griffiths said: “This is a significant breakthrough. The government is now actively considering whether to intervene in this decision, and that is happening because residents have spoken out and refused to let this issue be brushed aside.

"People were told this closure was temporary. It is now permanent, and the evidence behind that shift still has not been clearly set out. That is why I asked the Secretary of State to step in.

"I have raised this issue frequently in Parliament with ministers, and I will continue pressing for full transparency, proper scrutiny, and clear answers about the future of Zachary Merton Hospital. This is about making sure local people are heard and that decisions about their healthcare are properly justified.”

The development follows ongoing campaigning from residents and local representatives, including Andy Cooper, who welcomed the government’s consideration of the issue.

“I am pleased that Alison has pushed hard on this matter, which is now being seriously considered by the Secretary of State’s office,” he said.

"We will continue to press for clarity, accountability and proper engagement; our community deserves nothing less when it comes to the future of local healthcare.”

Following the closure, the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) commissioned an independent survey. The trust said this confirmed that ‘extensive repairs’, estimated at around eight million pounds were required to bring the building ‘up to the standard we expect for both patients and staff’.

Due to ‘financial constraints’ within the trust and wider system, there was said to be ‘no funding available to support this’.

After news of a possible government intervention, a SCFT spokesperson said: "Zachary Merton Hospital was closed at the end of 2023 due to significant estates issues that meant it wasn't safe to provide care there or have staff working on the site.

"Unfortunately, an independent survey found it would have needed extensive repairs estimated to cost £8million, and without capital funding within the trust to that level or external national funding available, it would have taken funding from frontline services to make it safe.

"Since the closure, we have expanded services to care for patients within the community, working to support people in their own homes and ensuring those who need inpatient care are able to access it through our network of intermediate care units, including at Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital, Arundel and District Community Hospital, and Salvington Lodge in Worthing.

“Our priority continues to be delivering high quality care to local patients and more people are receiving care at home or in the most appropriate setting compared to 2023. We understand that there is a strong connection with the building from the local community, and for many of our staff, however we can’t deliver care from a building that isn’t safe for patients or staff."

The closure of Zachary Merton Hospital has been a long-running local concern, with Mrs Griffiths also raising the issue in Parliament, writing to NHS leaders, and submitting parliamentary questions as part of a wider campaign for transparency.

A public meeting with senior NHS leaders is scheduled to take place in Rustington on Thursday, May 21, from 6pm to 7.30pm at the Woodlands Centre, where residents will be able to ask questions about the future of local healthcare provision.