Villagers meet onhospital's future

A meeting is being arranged for the Six Villages area about the possible downgrading of St Richard's Hospital.

The session will be held by West Sussex County Council through its joint downland area committee which brings together county councillors with their parish and district counterparts.

The NHS is holding consultation meetings about the proposals but these are taking place in bigger urban locations such as Bognor Regis and Chichester.

However, residents in villages like Barnham and Walberton will be as affected by any alterations in hospital services as those along the coast.

County council deputy leader Cllr Mike Coleman told Monday's meeting of the joint downland area committee it was essential that everyone had the chance to speak out about any changes.

The special committee meeting was likely to be held in September to fit well within the West Sussex Primary Care Trust's 18 week consultation period about the hospitals.

A venue for what is sure to be a popular session is still being worked out. The committee covers a large area from Westergate to Findon. Everyone in this largely rural locality depends on either St Richard's or Worthing and could suffer if services are cut.

Cllr Coleman said he had met the primary care trust's chief executive, John Wilderspin, earlier that day.

'He said he was open to new ideas and was prepared to revisit old decisions. That's quite an opportunity which we have to take. We have to make certain that we make use of the local meetings that are being organised.

'We need sound and logical reasons why the primary care trust have got it wrong and we have got it right,' said Cllr Coleman.

'I am still hoping the PCT will see some sense. I would urge people to come to the meetings to put pressure on them.

'I know there are a lot of people in the downland area '“ not just residents '“ but nurses, doctors and specialists who will want to have their say.'