Calls for new hospital 'ignored'

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An MP has accused health bosses of ignoring thousands of people in West Sussex who hoped for a new hospital following a healthcare review.

Horsham MP Francis Maude has appealed to West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) to look again at the decision to rule out a new hospital in the Horsham area.

A crunch meeting two weeks ago decided not to recommend the new hospital.

The PCT said it had agreed to review health care services and access to them in the north east of the county.

Mr Maude had backed a campaign for a new hospital for Horsham and Crawley at Pease Pottage, which was supported by a petition signed by thousands of residents.

'Mockery of review'

It was submitted as part of the consultation process under the Fit for the Future exercise looking at health services in West Sussex.

"By ruling out a new hospital, the PCT has also ignored the opinions of Horsham District Council, Crawley Borough Council and West Sussex County Council," said Mr Maude.

"In my opinion, ruling it out at this stage makes a mockery of the entire review."

He has now written to chief executive of the PCT, John Wilderspin, expressing his concern.

Mr Wilderspin said the PCT acknowledged that the Fit for the Future programme focused primarily on services in the south of West Sussex and Central Sussex areas.

'Important work'

And it had agreed the recommendation by Sir Graeme Catto that a further review should be carried out.

"It is important that the benefits of care closer to home... are equally available to the population in the north east of the county and we are pleased Sir Graeme has agreed to undertake this important piece of work," said Mr Wilderspin.

The 14 February meeting agreed to consider a proposal by clinicians that would allow all three existing West Sussex hospitals to keep their A&E departments.

However, an earlier plan which would mean the loss of A&E at the three hospitals is still on the table.

And campaigners reacted with dismay to the decision to shut a consultant-led maternity service at the Princess Royal at Haywards Heath.

A final decision on the hospitals' future is expected later in the spring.