St Richard's A & E looks set to stay

Accident and emergency services - for months facing the threat of possible cutbacks - are likely to remain at all three hospitals in West Sussex, it emerged at a meeting in Chichester.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Feb 2008, 13:41 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 19:01 BST

The joint health overview and scrutiny committee was told by Dr Peter Hayward, consultant in public health and member of the Primary Care Trust's clinical reference advisory group, that the group's proposal included the retention of acute medicine and A and E services at St Richard's, Chichester, Worthing Hospital, and the Princess Royal, Haywards Heath.

Committee chairman Cllr Peter Griffiths said: "We were pleased to hear that A and E is likely to be retained but we do feel that this message needs to get out to the public. People need to know how far local clinicians have developed their plans since the original proposals were launched last year."

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A statement issued after the meeting said the committee was concerned by a lack of information on maternity services in the PCTs' financial modelling - and was particularly keen to receive more detail on the proposed stand-alone 'midwife led birthing unit' for West Sussex.

It had asked for an urgent update on maternity issues at its next meeting.

"The committee was concerned that whatever option is ultimately chosen, it is important that this can be shown to be financially sustainable, and at this late stage in the process there is clearly a lot of work still to be done to clarify the financial viability of the options that the PCTs are considering," the statement added.

"Members were also concerned by the lack of detailed figures which could assure them that the cost of options have been fully evaluated, and asked for this detailed financial information to be provided as soon as possible."

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A committee meeting on Wednesday, April 2, would be the final evidence gathering session, and this would be the last opportunity for the PCT and other NHS Trusts to provide any further vital information, before the committee's final decision is taken.

The next meeting of the joint committee will be on Wednesday February 20, at 10.30am in County Hall, Chichester. This will be focusing on the revised shortlist of options following a PCT Board meeting on February 14.

Related topics:ChichesterWest SussexPeople