The future of a hospital block remains unclear after NHS bosses declared it surplus to requirements.
The Harness Block at Southlands Hospital in Shoreham has been empty for a year after Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust transferred its elderly inpatient wards to Worthing Hospital.
The trust intends to keep other services such as day patient and outpatient care at a different part of the hospital site.
But the block – the hospital’s main building – is no longer needed by the trust.
Locals are hoping the building could be used as a community hospital, as a site to provide respite care or used for other public health purposes.
They fear if nobody comes forward, the building, which is already surrounded by new housing in the former hospital grounds, will be sold off to developers and used for more homes.
Trust bosses will now invite public sector bodies to consider whether they could use the building in some way.
If no bids are received, the trust will have to consider other options, which could include the site going to developers.
‘No longer needed’
Medical director Phillip Barnes said: “It is important to note that whatever happens to the Harness block building, thousands and thousands of people every year will continue to use the rest of the Southlands site for their hospital care, as they do now.
“The block has not been used for patient care for more than a year.
“Our board has formally declared that it is no longer needed for acute care.
“We will approach other public sector bodies to see whether they could make use of the building.
“We would welcome any viable bid to use the building for health or social care, or any other community use.
“The national rules dictate that if no viable bid is received at this stage, the Harness block would then need to made available for alternative uses.”
Bids need to be made by the end of August.
Talking point:
What should the Harness block be used for?
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