MP WARNS ON HOSPITAL DOWNGRADING

The Lewes MP was speaking after a top-level meeting at the DGH with the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust Chairman John Lewis, and Director of Operations Graham Griffiths, where he was given an update on the core services consultation process, which has finally been given a start date, March 26.

Following that meeting, Mr Baker met Eastbourne's Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman, Stephen Lloyd, at the hospital, to discuss how the two could work even closer together to protect the hospital.

Mr Baker said: 'My meeting with bosses at the hospital was a constructive meeting. I know John Lewis and Graham Griffiths understand the importance of the DGH to my constituents, not least because they two of them.

'Of course the Primary Care Trust is the body which will produce then options, so the hospital's management is as much in the dark as anyone else.

'The PCT has now confirmed the consultation process is due to start on the 26th of March.

'It is disappointing the start-date has been delayed over the last few months, not least because the local election campaign is legally due to start soon after the 26th March, and that means the consultation process will have to be suspended for the duration of the election campaign barely as soon as it has got going.

'Nevertheless, the sooner we can examine all the options in detail the better.'