Uncertain future for Southlands Hospital (From The Argus)

Uncertain future for Southlands Hospital

5:20pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter

Southlands Hospital

The future of a hospital building remains unclear after managers revealed they are struggling to find anyone to take it over.

Bosses are planning to transfer inpatients from Southlands Hospital in Shoreham to Worthing Hospital.

The move means the trust will no longer need the main building on the site, known as the Harness Block.

It invited individuals and organisations interested in taking it over to declare an interest but not one formal application had been received by the February 1 deadline.

Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust has now extended the deadline for applications until the end of this month.

Campaigners are calling for the site to be turned into a community hospital but there are concerns if nobody comes forward, the building could be taken over by developers and used for housing.

Martha Harris, 62, who lives near the hospital in Hammy Lane, said: “The place needs to be kept as a hospital as there are a lot of people in the area who would find it difficult to travel to Worthing. I would hate to see it turned into houses.”

The trust is still committed to keeping services at Shoreham and will use other buildings on the site to provide outpatient services.

However, it is not financially viable for it to maintain the main building.

The trust says it is keen to explore any possible use of the block, and will talk to any groups or individuals who are interested in using the building for health, community or other purposes.

The trust carried out a public consultation last year, and the decision was made that inpatients would be safer, and get better care, if they were treated in Worthing rather than Southlands.

Chief executive Marianne Griffiths said: “Our trust only provides acute care, and even though it is no longer appropriate for such care to be provided at Southlands we are still keen to see the Harness Block used for a purpose which serves the community if at all possible."

To express an interest, write to: Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, care of BNP Paribas Real Estate, Alleyn House, Carlton Crescent, Southampton, SO15 2EU or email sarah.ward@bnpparibas.com.

theargus.co.uk/localinfo

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