PCT reveals thousands of responses to the Fit for the Future consultation

The PCT have revealed that they received 11,645 pieces of correspondence pre-consultation (before the three original options were announced) and 38,925 responses during the public consultation itself.

Half of the consultation responses were considered as unique responses (16,927) and the rest were bulk responses which included petitions, postcards and coupons which people had signed indicating their views to the proposals.

Steven Pollock, director of communications and patient and public involvement said: "While many of these were signatures on petitions, the issues and messages from the respondents were clear."

Mr Pollack expressed his thanks, on behalf of West Sussex PCT, to the thousands of people who took part in the consultation process and said the views of local people have helped influence the decision making process for changes to health services.

He said: "I hope we can demonstrate today that we have listened and the PCT has taken head of what you have said to us."

The PCT said that every single response received was logged, typed into a computer system and independently analysed.

John Wilderspin, chief executive of the West Sussex PCT, said: "We have learned many lessons from the public consultation and we will take into account the feedback from the public to develop and improve our engagement and communication with them in the next phases of the Fit for the Future programme and beyond."

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