Is the astronomical proposed expenditure of nearly half a billion pounds on the demolition and replacement of the Royal Sussex County Hospital a wise use of money?

Additional building may be required (costing a fraction of the proposed outlay) but wholesale demolition and rebuilding is not necessary. Indeed, no demolition may be required at all.

Most of the existing buildings are not ancient and, with a little thought and at modest cost, they can be reorganised and adapted to modern requirements.

The Barry Building, the traditional face of the RSCH, could become the ideal administrative block, perhaps also containing the main cafe/restaurant for visitors and patients attending for checkups and consultations, who do not require a hospital stay.

It is ironic that what I consider to be the most outstanding department of the RSCH – the Sussex Eye Hospital – is housed in one of the oldest buildings.

New buildings may help but wholesale replacement does not ensure quality of treatment – that depends on adequate, quality staffing.

Some months ago, because of rather poor direction signs in the RSCH, I found myself in areas which appeared little utilised and noted how much more spacious the hospital appeared compared with the restricted spaces of the wonderful King’s College Hospital in London, which treats such vast numbers of patients so magnificently in buildings that predate most of those at the RSCH.

We know that in a few years time fashion, not need, will urge further changes and expensive placements when all that is needed are a few brain cells to inexpensively reorganise facilities within the existing structure.

Spend money on professional staff, better equipment and patient care – not on the vanity of fashion.

Alfred Thompsett, Ridgeside Avenue, Brighton