Hospital campaign: "Battle not yet over"

At a crunch meeting of West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) in Pulborough on Thursday, members decided to consider a total of six options for the future of local hospitals, categorised under three service model headings.

And, in a move hailed as a step forward by Keep Worthing and Southlands Hospitals (KWASH) campaigners, one of the options put forward (service model three) was devised by clinicians to allow all three hospitals under threat '” Worthing, St Richard's in Chichester and the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath, to keep their A&Es.

If this option is accepted, the two hospitals to become local generals would retain a form of A&E department.

But Tom Wye, who has spearheaded the KWASH campaigns, is still concerned.

He said: "I am glad all six options have been taken forward and Worthing is still in there with a fighting chance. But my message is that the battle has not yet over. If we do retain an A&E department it won't offer the same services as it does now."

Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West, said now is not the time to relax.

"To most people, this is still a mystery wrapped up in an enigma. We don't yet know whether the PCT is quietly confident that Worthing, where there are the most elderly people and an area which is densely populated, will have the acute medical services in the future.

"Until the PCT makes a firm announcement, nobody can relax."

The consultation on the PCT's Fit for the Future proposals for health services in West Sussex generated a huge outcry from concerned residents.

At the meeting, it was revealed the PCT had received 38,925 responses, representing 326,580 people. This included 21,998 bulk responses, such as petitions.

John Wilderspin, chief executive of the PCT, said: "I want to thank the many thousands of people who made the effort to respond and contribute to the consultation. We are encouraged by the level of involvement and engagement the consultation generated."

Mr Bottomley added: "I would like to pay tribute to the local community, organisations, local council and the media, particularly the Worthing Herald, for keeping people up-to-date with what is going on and what everybody can do to help win this critical battle."

Sir Graeme Catto, asked by the PCT to independently assess the options, categorised the six options under three service models;

*Service Model One

One major general hospital (MGH), one local general hospital (LGH) and one community hospital (CH.

Option One '” Worthing MGH, St Richards LGH and Princess Royal CH.

Option Two '” St Richards MGH, Worthing LGH and Princess Royal CH.

*Service Model Two

One MGH, two LGH. The LGHs will not have A&E and related services.

Option Three '” St Richards MGH, and Worthing and Princess Royal both LGH.

Option Four '” Worthing MGH and St Richards and Princess Royal both LGH.

Service Model Three

One MGH and two LGHs. The LGH will have A&E and related services.

Option Five '” St Richards MGH and Worthing and Princess Royal as LGH.

Option Six '” Worthing as MGH and St Richards and Princess Royal as LGH.

Sir Graeme said: "The starting point is looking at services that are safe for patients and services that can be sustainable into the future.

"The concerns are that we might lose A&E services in different parts of the county and my recommendation is we should not do that.

"We should still have full accident and emergency services at the three hospitals that currently provide them and more than that, there should be in-patient wards for those patients with common conditions. Instead of reducing services for patients I see this as improving services and making them much safer."

The decision will be done in two stages. The service model will be decided on in early May and the location of centralised services, which hospital will be the MGH, will be announced in early June.