Hospital campaigners continue their fight

The Save Southlands Hospital group held up placards outside the Chatsworth Hotel, in The Steyne, where Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had a council of governors meeting.

The two-hour meeting included discussion of the trust’s Strategic Plan 2014-19, which looks at seven-day working, reshaping cancer services and developing the remainder of Southlands as an ambulatory care centre.

Steve Guy, from the campaign group, said: “When the council of governors turned up for their meeting, they were confronted by a small protest outside.

“The group were protesting at the way in which the trust were continuing to run down services at the hospital, and the imminent threat to demolish part of the hospital.

“The group continue to maintain that Southlands is a valuable community asset, and should continue to provide NHS services to those that need them, and not be sold off to developers.”

He said the Harness Block was brought up at the meeting and the response was that it was ‘an asset held for sale’.

After the meeting, a trust spokesman said there had been no change to the decision made some time ago on the Harness Block at Southlands. It was surplus to requirements and ready for sale.