Growing anger at 'hospital cuts'

Four hundred people turned out to support their local hospital

People concerned at proposed hospital changes in the South East have been promised their views will be heard.

Hundreds were at a meeting in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, on Wednesday as part of the Support the Princess Royal Hospital campaign in the town.

Some of its services could be under threat due to a review of healthcare provision across Surrey and Sussex.

Southlands Hospital, in Shoreham, and Brighton General could be shut. Two others might see services downgraded.

A programme to "shape the future for health services" in the two counties will involve a full public consultation from mid-November once firm proposals have been made.

'Financial pressures'

EMERGING HOSPITAL SCENARIOS Surrey One: Three of the four major A&Es - St Peter's (Chertsey), Frimley Park and East Surrey (Redhill) - continuing to do specialist work while the Royal Surrey County Hospital (Guildford) would have a different role Surrey Two: Frimley Park, Royal Surrey County and East Surrey continue with specialist work while St Peter's would have a different role West Sussex One: Two of the three major A&Es - Royal Sussex County (Brighton) and St Richard's (Chichester) - continuing to do specialist work while Worthing Hospital and the Princess Royal (Haywards Heath) have a different role West Sussex Two: Royal Sussex County and Worthing continue with specialist work while St Richard's and the Princess Royal would have a different role Brighton General Hospital and Southlands Hospital could be closed and the sites sold off

Wednesday night's meeting in Haywards Heath saw health service bosses quizzed about what it could mean for the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH).

John Wilderspin, from the newly-formed West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT), said there were three reasons why changes were having to be made.

"One is that we're now in a position to be able to provide a lot more care for people outside of hospitals... and we think that's the best thing to do.

"The second is that the way hospitals are run is changing considerably and we need to respond to that.

"And the third reason is that we face big financial pressures and we need to deal with those.

"We will need to make sure the options we consider are realistic and deliverable. Then we will listen to people's views."

Two possible scenarios being explored in West Sussex would see the PRH having "a different role" than presently, with only two out of the Royal Sussex County Hospital (Brighton), St Richard's Hospital (Chichester) and Worthing Hospital retaining their A&E units.

Regional NHS staff have been told that "minor change is unlikely to be sufficient".