I took my son to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital for a minor procedure.

As usual all of us were treated very well, the procedure went well and we were able to come home in the early evening. Over the past few years we have got to know the team at, firstly the old Royal Alex and now the vastly superior new hospital with all its child-orientated architecture, but still with the dedicated child-friendly staff.

I was, therefore, shocked to learn that one of the wards in the “children’s hospital” has been taken over by the Royal Sussex County Hospital for elderly patients while their ward is decorated (The Argus, December 4).

This, I am told, is to be for a period of three weeks. I was also told that the ward that has been taken over was due to be re-opened for children.

The main problem here is that once this has occurred, it may well happen again and end up being used as an annexe to the Royal Sussex.

I am sure that this will come as a shock to the many thousands of people who have raised money through the Rockinghorse appeal for this wonderful hospital only to find some of the “hard fought for resources” being gobbled up by the Royal Sussex.

John Porter
Pyecombe