A demonstration is being held today outside NHS offices in protest at controversial plans to award multimillion-pound contract to a private company.
Coastal West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) sparked fury when it announced Bupa was the preferred bidder for a £235 million contract to manage services dealing with bone, muscle and joint problems in West Sussex.
Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which had wanted to continue providing the musculoskeletal (MSK) service, said the move could have an impact on its accident and emergency departments in Worthing and Chichester because the services are linked.
An independent assessment of the potential impact is now being carried out.
Protest groups including Don’t Cut us Out and Sussex Defend the NHS will gather outside the CCG’s offices in The Causeway, Worthing, from 1.45pm, ahead of a governing body meeting at 2.45pm.
There will be no formal contract sign-off or any decision made relating to MSK during the meeting.
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