Decision due on Eastbourne Station Health Centre’s future

On Wednesday (December 9), the governing body of the East Sussex NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is due to decide whether to move ahead with long-mooted plans to close down the Eastbourne Station Health Centre.

The CCG’s decision will then be reviewed at a meeting of the East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) the following day (Thursday, December 10), which is expected to weigh whether to refer the decision to the Secretary of State for Health.

According to the CCG proposals, the centre would not close its doors until the Victoria Medical Centre establishes a branch surgery in the town centre and the health centre’s patients are transferred over to it.

Even after this process is complete, the health centre would continue to offer walk-in services for a short period (likely two to three months) before closing completely sometime in June 2021.

The CCG will then commission an interim service, which will operate out of the health centre providing nursing support, care navigation and signposting for patients to other services. This is likely to close by October 2021.

The CGG says it will also commission drop-in clinics in the town centre – taking place at least once a week – to meet the medical and nursing needs of rough sleepers and homeless patients.