Hospital axe is no idle threat

Documents produced by the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority show that drastically reducing the hospital's status forms part of six of the nine "masterplan" schemes being discussed.

Being downgraded to a local general hospital would be a disaster for the area. It would mean the hospital losing accident and emergency, obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics and intensive therapy units, as well as other vital services.

The detailed documents handed to the Herald show a shocking and relentless cash deficit building-up in local health services. Worthing Hospital has already admitted to a 10.6 million debt but the regional picture is much worse '“ and set to deteriorate further.

Read the full story in Thursday's Herald