Consultation into closing Eastbourne health service relaunches

The consultation into plans to close Eastbourne Station Health Centre has relaunched today (August 3).
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Residents are being asked to have their say on proposals to close the walk-in service, after an earlier consultation was paused due to the coronavirus outbreak.

East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) says it has endorsed the restart of the consultation after ‘careful consideration’.

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It will run from Monday, August 3, until Monday, September 14.

Eastbourne Station Health Centre protestEastbourne Station Health Centre protest
Eastbourne Station Health Centre protest

A spokesperson for the CCG said, “This is not a decision that has been taken lightly and the CCG recognises that people are still dealing with the effects that Covid-19 and lockdown restrictions continue to have on their lives.

“However, as lockdown is relaxed, and more workplaces and businesses start to re-open, the CCG feels that the time is right to re-start the process.”

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The proposal to close the service comes following ‘extensive analysis’ about how and when local people us the walk-in centre, said the CCG.

Protest against closing Eastbourne station health centre earlier this yearProtest against closing Eastbourne station health centre earlier this year
Protest against closing Eastbourne station health centre earlier this year

However, these plans have come under fire from local group East Sussex Save the NHS, which has held several protests against it and encouraged around 2,000 people to sign a petition to save the service.

Eastbourne’s MP Caroline Ansell also previously criticised the proposals, raising concerns about GP spaces in town.

She said, “It is a real concern to me that those registered at the station will be left without a local GP practice to join.”

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Or to request a copy of the document you can email your name and address to: [email protected] or call 01273 403687.

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