Fears that the hospital islosing support

The hospital's Friends are holding their annual fete this Saturday.

The event is traditionally the organisation's biggest money-spinner of the year. Last year's generated a record 8,200.

But there are fears that the continued uncertainty and controversy about the future of the NHS in West Sussex could deter people from helping out with their donations. The Friends spent 92,000 last year in buying various items to make patients' lives easier in the hospital's two wards of some 60 beds.

Friends' chairman Ted Chandler said: 'It is absolutely important that people continue to support the Friends. We rely on them 100 per cent.

'All the money we spend comes from them. We can only spend what they give us.

'We get so many requests from the staff for items they would like us to buy but we can't do that if people don't back us.

'People are usually very generous to us and, with all the controversy, we can only keep doing the best wYe can.'

The hospital's future has so far been kept out of the furore which has surrounded the proposals for St Richard's Hospital, Worthing Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital at Haywards Heath.

There is no suggestion the war memorial hospital will close, though its range of services might alter.

The official line of the West Sussex NHS Primary Care Trust is that community hospitals, such as Bognor's, will have their exact roles determined only after the services for the major hospitals have been decided.

The PCT says that community hospitals will play a large part in rehabilitation and intermediate care as well as diagnostic facilities so people can be investigated and treated for many illnesses and conditionsl closer to their homes than is often the case.

This is the main current role of the war memorial hospital as well as hosting a renal dialysis unit and a hydrotherapy pool.

Mr Chandler said: 'People are a bit dubious about what is going to happen to the hospital. We can't get any answers from anybody about its future.

'Everybody wants to know if it is still going to be here. As far as we know, the answer is yes. I can't see the hospital going.

'Bognor is the biggest catchment area around Chichester and it would make no sense to do that.'

The fete takes place between 1pm and 4pm in the hospital's grounds off Shripney Road.

It is being opened by DJ Steve Power of Wave 105.2. The MC will be Erik Jack the music will be provided by George's Regis Jazz band and there will be displays by the students from the Art of Dance and Fitness and The Spirits of Ishtar dancers.

Some extra children's stalls will be added to the usual homemade cakes, jams and chutneys, country produce, silent auction, tombolas, books and toys and games. A hog roast will be there as well this year.

There will be cream teas, sandwiches, ice creams, candy floss and cakes to enjoy while watching the arena displays.

The Friends still need lots of help to set up the stalls on Friday evening and take them down again on the Saturday evening. Volunteers will be gratefully received.

Lots of donations of items for the stalls are also required. They can be left at the hospital's main reception.

Staff from the Bognor branch of Travelcare will be at the fete selling raffle tickets, with a top prize of a cruise to Spain and providing free refreshments. Proceeds from the travel agent's takings on the day will be split between the Friends and the Children's Society, the Co-op Group's charity of the year.