'100 BEDS TO CLOSE'- MP

Almost 50 beds are likely to be mothballed or even withdrawn under plans for the future of the Eastbourne DGH, and up to another 50 similarly closed at the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath, MP Norman Baker has learned from senior sources within the NHS.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Sep 2006, 10:40 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:36 BST

The latest news as another bodyblow to the beleaguered NHS in Sussex. Amongst those hospitals serving the Lewes constituency:

'¢ The Royal Sussex is facing huge financial problems and has had to accept a "turnaround team" to try to get it back on tack. It is proposing savage cuts in services to try to balance the budget

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

'¢ The Eastbourne DGH has probably fought off plans to curtail its A&E department, but is still facing the loss of maternity services, and now faces losing up to 50 beds

'¢ The Princess Royal faces the possibility of being downgraded to little more than a cottage hospital, losing its A&E department entirely, and much of its surgery capacity. It is now likely, it seems, to lose up to 50 beds in the near future.

The Lewes MP said: "The NHS in Sussex, and it seems elsewhere as well, is in crisis. It is astonishing how an organisation that has apparently had so much money poured into it can be in such a sorry state. That is a terrible indictment of the financial management of this Labour government."

Mr Baker will shortly be holding further talks with key NHS personnel to discuss the crisis, including the new Chief Executive of the East Sussex PCT, Nick Yeo, and later with Candy Morris, Chief Executive of the Strategic Health Authority.

Related topics:Norman BakerNHSBedsEastbourne DGHSussexHaywards Heath