Not many years ago, our GP referred my wife to the Esperance Hospital in Eastbourne, where an on-the-spot diagnosis was made of severe appendicitis, needing an immediate operation.

It was carried out within days.

With no improvement after some six months, a second opinion was obtained at the Eastbourne District General Hospital and bowel cancer was diagnosed.

A successful operation was performed but the delay had allowed the cancer to spread.

No apology was offered and a hiatus hernia operation in a DGH ward followed.

Sadly, my wife died last year. It is to be hoped patients of the new unit will not suffer in the interest of speed and cost-cutting.

-Irvine Iles, FRICS, Salisbury Road, Eastbourne