VOTE: GPs urged to back Littlehampton hospital campaign

A letter has been sent to doctors’ surgeries across the area, outlining the need for a united call to health bosses.

Signed by leader of the district council, Gill Brown, and Dr James Walsh, who represents the town on West Sussex county, Arun district and Littlehampton town councils, the letter says: “We believe the community has already demonstrated the desperate local need and public support for a replacement community hospital, serving not only the greater Littlehampton area but also adjoining rural areas that would naturally fall within its business catchment area.

“We know that historically our local GPs have also been strongly supportive of the need for this facility.”

They added they were increasingly frustrated at in the “inordinate” amount of time and vast sums of money that had been spent over the last six years, in preparing business cases and designing and re-designing a hospital that has never been built.

“We are, therefore, asking you as the provider of primary care for the residents in the locality to join, if you have not already done so, our campaign to regain our local community hospital,” it said.

“We feel that your support as local medical practitioners is very important and will add even greater weight to the recent clear public support.”

So far, more than 5,000 protest letters have been delivered to Arun Civic Centre, 1,200 of them collected by one Littlehampton pensioner, Bob McDowall, who hired a mobility scooter and has been roaming the town in all weathers collecting signatures.

He said: “This is our money. It’s been paid by the taxpayers of Littlehampton. The primary care trust is merely the custodian. They have no right to ignore us and to keep from the people of this town what we need and what we have been promised.

“They have to start listening to us.”

Littlehampton mayor, Alan Gammon, praised Bob’s dedication.

“Bob’s passion for this campaign is inspiring. The time has come for action and never before has that been clearer. I commend and thank Bob for his tireless efforts.

“We have heard enough words. We have heard enough excuses and we have waited long enough.”

Will you do your bit for the campaign by encouraging your GP to give their support? Cast your vote in the panel to the sright of the screen and leave your comments below.