Sussex MP prepared to fight for hospital services (From The Argus)

Sussex MP prepared to fight for hospital services

5:40pm Sunday 30th October 2011 in News By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter

AN MP who campaigned to save hospital services says he would take to the streets again if another threat emerged.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust is preparing to transfer inpatient services from Southlands Hospital in Shoreham to Worthing Hospital following a public consultation.

This has sparked fears about the future of Southlands once the inpatient wards have gone.

East Worthing and ShorehamMP Tim Loughton met with trust chief executive Marianne Griffiths to discuss the hospital’s future.

Mr Loughton was a member of the Keep Worthing and Southlands Hospitals (KWASH) campaign, which was set up four years ago when maternity, children’s and surgical services were under threat of being downgraded.

In a newsletter to constituents, Mr Loughton said: “The hospital management remain committed to the long-term future of Southlands as a hospital site and I have no reason to doubt that.

“If pressures come from the outside contrary to this, I will be the first to dust down our KWASH banners and take to the streets again as we did so successfully when the primary care trust launched its misguided Fit for the Future exercise a few years ago.

“As we know, many of the acute beds have been transferred to Worthing and the stroke rehabilitation unit has been merged with the stroke unit there to provide much better clinical cover.

“In return, the ophthalmology department has come to Southlands, a new GP surgery is moving in and radiology and day surgery remain key priority activities there.”