PCT chief: We knew about 'agreement'

A TOP health boss has admitted he knew Worthing did not want to provide a high-dependency baby care unit before making the decision to upgrade it as the county's major general hospital.

Originally it was thought the PCT was in the dark over the deal struck in April between Worthing and Brighton to provide only a low-level neonatal unit at Worthing, and send tiny babies needing more specialist care to the East Sussex hospital.

But now chief executive of the West Sussex PCT John Wilderspin has said he knew about the agreement before the meeting on June 4, when the board decided to make Worthing the MGH and downgrade the Chichester hospital, including its top-class high-dependency baby care unit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said the knowledge Worthing did not want to provide the higher-level unit should not have been a factor in the decision-making process because the PCT had dictated the major general hospital must provide a higher-level unit.

But he told the Observer ongoing discussions about the numbers of babies which would be cared for and confusion between consultants and staff at both hospitals was 'distracting'.

"That was not helpful," he said. "I did know about the (April) meeting before we met on June 4 but at that meeting we decided the MGH must provide a level 2a (high-dependency) service."

Abigail Rowe from the Support St Richard's campaign said she was 'absolutely disgusted' at the revelation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"How can the public trust the PCT when they have made their decision knowing these two hospitals were proposing worse services?

"The idea of Fit For the Future was that services were supposed to be better in West Sussex, not worse."

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP