Children facing grim reality of hospital cuts

Nine-year-old Worthing schoolboy Oliver Foord is one of the CF sufferers who rely on the specialist service at the 'Alex', which he visits at least once a week.

Oliver lives in Broadwater, Worthing, and is a pupil at West Park Church of England First and Middle School, Goring.

He manages to live a reasonably normal life, thanks to the constant care of the team at Brighton, which includes experienced doctors, nurses, a dietician and a psychotherapist.

Now the families of CF sufferers are afraid that this specialist team may be broken up and the children may have to rely on 'care in the community' instead.

Sussex children like Oliver would have to make frequent journeys to London or Southampton for the hospital treatment they need.

Press officer Caroline Kalu from the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital confirmed that consultations are taking place to determine the best way of providing children's services, in the context of the hospital's move to new premises. Decisions will have to be made about whether to provide various services in the community or within the hospital.

For the full story, see the West Sussex Gazette