HEALTH watchdogs are calling for action after two controversial deaths at a hospital.

Eastbourne Community Health Council is demanding urgent talks with managers following the deaths at Eastbourne District General Hospital.

In the strongest criticism yet levelled at the hospital, they say public confidence is now at rock bottom.

And they claim hospital bosses are not doing enough to keep people informed.

Last year, hairdresser Pauline Freeman bled to death after a routine hysterectomy on a ward with just one nurse looking after 34 patients.

And in March, nurses failed to revive frail pensioner Marjorie Dyer after mixing her up with a patient whose notes read "not for resuscitation."

At both inquests, verdicts of accidental death were recorded.

But the council says hospital bosses are hiding behind the verdicts and the public needs to know more.

In a letter to the hospital calling for talks, the council's chief officer, John Faulds, said: "The public perception seems to be that the hospital, and to a lesser extent, the health authority, rather than offering explanations are taking refuge behind the verdicts."

Council chairman Walter James added that one of the issues was nursing shortages.

The hospital currently has around 45 vacant nursing posts out of 833.

He said: "There are serious questions that are not being answered at the moment. It is vital that the public know more so we can restore their faith in the hospital."

The criticisms come after a meeting of Eastbourne's Primare Care Group on Monday.

More than 200 people, including Mrs Freeman's husband Roy, were there.

He backed the CHC's criticisms, saying: "My wife went into hospital for a simple operation and never came out alive. The public needs to know this will never happen again."

Hospital spokesman Chris Randall rejected claims that the hospital was keeping people in the dark, saying board meetings and the inquests were both open to the public.

He added: "There is a perception that the hospital is unsafe and I want to make it clear that that is wrong.

"We welcome the views of the council and look forward to meeting with them."

Earlier this week the Argus revealed that senior experts from the South East Region of the NHS are to visit the hospital to discuss nursing shortages.

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