'People power' aids A&E rethink

The hospital proposals provoked huge public protests

Three West Sussex hospitals are a step nearer to keeping their A&E departments in a development being hailed as a success for people power.

A crunch meeting of West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) was held in Pulborough following an A&E rethink.

It considered a report saying A&E should be retained at the Princess Royal at Haywards Heath, Worthing Hospital and St Richard's, Chichester.

The PCT said it had received 328,000 responses to last year's consultation.

"While many of these were signatures on petitions, the issues and messages from the respondents were clear," it said.

The people and the local authorities of West Sussex have stood up and been counted Henry Smith

The consultation on the trust's Fit for the Future proposals for health services in West Sussex ended on 14 November.

Two of the hospitals stood to lose their A&E units with consultant-led maternity services also possibly being centralised on one site.

Now clinicians have come up with a plan that would allow all three A&Es to stay open.

Sir Graeme Catto, appointed to review the process, has told the PCT it should consider the clinicians' proposal.

'Important milestone'

"We are not making ultimate decisions," said chief executive John Wilderspin.

"But this is an important milestone between the end of the consultation and when we do make a final decision later in the spring."

Leader of West Sussex County Council, Henry Smith, said: "The battle certainly isn't won.

"The people and the local authorities of West Sussex have stood up and been counted but it is important that people power carries on.

"People should continue to express that they want to see local healthcare."

Sir Graeme also recommended the PCT should carry out a review of health services in Crawley and Horsham.

The move was welcomed by Horsham MP Francis Maude, who said the PCT should fully explore the possibility of a new hospital at Pease Pottage or another suitable site.