Littlehampton Hospital plea to health secretary

Bognor Regis and Littlehampton MP Nick Gibb posed the question to Jeremy Hunt during a parliamentary debate last week.

In the debate, Mr Gibb told the health secretary about the broken promises residents in Littlehampton were faced with, when the NHS took the decision not to build a new facility almost a decade ago.

He said: “In 2005, Littlehampton’s community hospital was demolished to make way for a new community hospital.

“Weeks later, the plans were put on hold because community hospitals went out of vogue.

“Sussex Community NHS Trust now wants to increase the number of in-patient beds at community hospitals.

“Will the Secretary of State ensure that NHS property services rebuilds Littlehampton community hospital to deliver those beds where they are needed?”

In response to Mr Gibb’s question, Mr Hunt agreed, saying that community care services needed to be enhanced.

But he said: “That is not actually a matter for NHS property services Ltd; it has to be locally-driven.

“However, my honourable friend is absolutely right that we need to enhance community care services, whether in community hospitals or through services delivered at home.

“My honourable friend has a high proportion of older people in his constituency and the transformation will be incredibly important for all his constituents.”

The debate comes just weeks after campaigners renewed a petition to rebuild the Littlehampton Hospital.

The petition is on the Government’s e-petition website.

To sign it, see here.