MP PROTESTS THAT VILLAGES ARE IGNORED

CONCERNS that many of the towns and villages in his constituency are being 'left without a voice' in the current consultation on the future of West Sussex's hospitals have been voiced by Arundel and South Downs MP Nick Herbert.

He has written to John Wilderspin, the Chief Executive of the West Sussex Primary Care Trust, on the issue.

The MP's letter follows the PCT's announcement of the dates and locations for the 18 public meetings that are due to be held across the county as part of the Fit for the Future consultation process.

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Only one village in the whole of the Arundel and South Downs constituency '“ Pulborough '“ is scheduled to have a public meeting to discuss the Primary Care Trust's plans to downgrade two of the county's three acute hospitals. This is despite the fact that many of the constituency's communities are those that will be most affected by any downgrading or loss of acute services.

In his letter, which has been released to the press, Nick Herbert wrote: "I am writing on behalf of a large number of my constituents to express my concern that their towns and villages are not included in the list of 18 public meetings scheduled to take place during the Fit for the Future consultation period.

"I cannot understand why Pulborough, with a population of around 5,000 people, should be included in the list, yet Angmering, Hassocks, Henfield, Hurstpierpoint and Steyning, all with at least the same population and in many cases somewhat larger, have been left out.

"Places such as Arundel, Upper Beeding, Storrington and West Chiltington may be slightly smaller than Pulborough, but are nevertheless important and discrete communities which ought to have their own meetings."

For full story and other reports relating to hosptial campaigns, see West Sussex Gazette July 18

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