The question to be asked is: "When is an A&E not an A&E"?

While Sir Graeme is recommending acute medicine, ITU and A&E at both St Richard's and Worthing, he is advocating acute surgery/orthopaedics and consultant-led obstetrics be limited to a single site.

Our concerns are that if acute surgery is moved to a single site then patients with appendicitis requiring surgery will have to travel to the single remaining site for treatment.

Likewise, a patient with a broken hip requiring repair.

There is no evidence to support the theory that centralising non-specialist, high-volume surgery is beneficial for patients.

Stand alone midwifery-led units do not have the support of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists because of the lack of proven safety.

Worthing is an excellent hospital that serves its patients well.

It needs its acute surgery/orthopaedics and consultant-led obstetrics if it is to continue to provide the level of service the patients in the catchment area require (and deserve).

The loss of any services will de facto be a downgrading.

We have the clinicians, we have the facilities, our elderly population, young mothers and children (especially those living in areas of deprivation) need them to be retained locally.


Tom Wye
KWASH
Ashacre Lane
Worthing