LITTLEHAMPTON Hospital campaigners may have lost the battle to replace the facility, but have pledged to keep up the fight to give the town the health service it needs.
Councillor Dr James Walsh, speaking at the annual town meeting for Littlehampton, said that while everyone was disappointed at the decision by NHS Sussex not to go ahead with the rebuilding plans, it was important to continue to press for better health facilities.
“There is a desperate need to replace the Littlehampton Health Centre, on the adjoining site, which has come to the end of its life.”
He called for a new building on the site of the hospital, with consultant’s suites for outpatient clinics for services such as chiropody and physiotherapy, together with diagnostic facilities, a minor injuries unit and mental health unit.
“We must re-focus our campaign to make sure that all these facilities are provided in Littlehampton, on that site, at the earliest opportunity.”
Town mayor Alan Gammon, in his report, was highly critical of NHS Sussex’s decision over the hospital.
He said: “I know that the people of Littlehampton have been deceived. Indeed, so have your councillors, and I personally feel hugely let down.
“We have all strived so hard for something we so obviously need.
“It falls on us all now to ensure that the new set of promises that have been made are delivered.
“We also need to be very watchful as to what the NHS locally decides it wants to do with the land.”
Mr Gammon called on the meeting to observe a minutes’ silence in memory of hospital campaigner Bob McDowall, who died last month.
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