‘Start building our hospital now’ plea

That letter was dated August, 2000. Eleven years later, with endless excuses, delays and broken promises from the health authority, the authority’s legacy to the people of Littlehampton is a derelict site where the hospital used to be.

The Primary Care Trust has now been replaced with a new health authority covering all of Sussex. Our area is covered by Western Sussex PCT, which has already broken its first promise, delaying a decision on the future of the hospital from December to February, saying they need more time to gather information.

Meanwhile, the health authority is being sued for £8.5m for breach of contract. A £13m revamp is in progress at Worthing Hospital and millions of pounds are to be made available to relocate vital services from Worthing to St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, and Southlands Hospital, Shoreham.

It seems millions of pounds are available for the major hospitals, but not to rebuild Littlehampton’s much-needed hospital.

I wish the campaigners who are working hard on our behalf the best of luck, and hope when they meet the health authority next time they will tell them that we have paid the price once for overspending at other hospitals and that the local community feels the rebuilding of Littlehampton Hospital should be the priority.

So no more delays or excuses. Start building now.

G. Knight

Grand Avenue

Wick