Fit For The Future process offically ends

The controversial Fit For The Future process which would have resulted in the centralisation of key services provided at Worthing and Southlands Hospitals and St Richard's Hospital has now been officially ended.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Nov 2009, 16:05 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:30 BST

NHS West Sussex made the decision yesterday (Thursday, November 26)

It means that inpatient surgery, consultant-led maternity services and inpatient paediatric services will remain at both sites.

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But the decision was made on two provisos which have been agreed and signed by both NHS West Sussex and the Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust. These are:

- that consultant led maternity units can be retained at both sites if numbers of birth are high enough.

It has been agreed that if the numbers of births fall substantially, then the two units may no longer be tenable.

NHS West Sussex has said that the trust will need to monitor birth numbers at both sites. If they fall below a certain level, it may trigger a further review.

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- Inpatient paediatrics will be kept at both sites on the promise that WSHT will reduce the number of children being admitted to hospital by ten per cent.

West Sussex has more admissions than similar counties and the aim will be to only admit children to hospital who really need to be there and develop more community-based services over the coming months.

Chief executive of NHS West Sussex, John Wilderspin said that it had seriously tested WSHT on its ability to meet those assurances and told the meeting today that the trust was confident and committed to meeting the conditions, which were necessary to ensure the long-term future of services.

Mr Wilderspin acknowledged that the FFF process had cost NHS West Sussex 2 million, but said that key things had come out of the past two years.

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Of great significance was the merger between St Richard's and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals and said the general air of close working between the various trusts, which would benefit patients.

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Related topics:West SussexNHS