Hospital News
Work underway to plan the implementation of changes to hospital services
Last December , East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed the proposals to improve stroke , emergency general surgery and emergency orthopaedic services in East Sussex were in the best interests of the people of the county .
These proposals will see the creation of a specialist centre for stroke services at Eastbourne District General Hospital , and a specialist centre for emergency general surgery and emergency orthopaedics at Conquest Hospital , Hastings . These changes affect around 1 % of the Eastbourne District General and
Conquest Hospitals ’ total activity . Local people should be reassured that the NHS in East Sussex has given a commitment to maintaining two thriving major hospitals with A & E services in Eastbourne and Hastings .
In February , the two local Primary Care Trusts and East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust ( ESHT ) received notification from solicitors acting on behalf of Liz Walke and the Save the DGH campaign of their intention to make a claim for a judicial review of the decisions about the future of these three services . As has been reported widely in the local media this threat of legal action has now been dropped . ESHT responded that the guiding principle has always been and remains the safety and future clinical sustainability of our services .
Work is now progressing on plans for the implementation of these changes which are expected to happen before the end of this year . Planning is detailed and complex involving input from a number of specialists within the Trust as well as multi agency input . Due to this complexity no announcement on moving dates will be made until all the plans are in place and agreed .
During the implemention planning phase ESHT will continue to engage in a programme of engagement with LINks and Care for the Carers along with other voluntary and charity groups to ensure their views are heard and taken account of in this planning process .
If anyone has any queries they can contact the Shaping our Future Implementation Team at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust on 01323 417400 ext 5750 .
At the time of going to press , NHS bosses are meeting to debate the short term future of maternity and paediatric services at the Eastbourne District General Hospital .
The East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust have said that changes need to be made for the safety of maternity and paediatric services in East Sussex ; this is because they have been unable to recruit suitable specialist staff , which has led to an over reliance on temporary and agency staff and an increase in risk
Stop Press ! 8th March
to patients . The Board will be considering a number of options ; however , the preferred change will be to maintain consultant led maternity and paediatric services at the Conquest Hospital , Hastings , and have a stand-alone midwifery-led maternity unit and enhanced ambulatory paediatric care at Eastbourne Hospital . We understand that any changes will be temporary and there will be a full public consultation before any permanent changes are made to maternity services in the county . We will keep you updated . www . cftc . org . uk 7