VIDEO: Worthing Hospital campaigners' pride

After months of sterling campaigning efforts by the Keep Worthing and Southlands Hospital (KWASH) campaigners the announcement was met with mixed feelings of jubilation and shock.

Click on the green play button to see a video of their reaction.

"This was never about pitting one hospital against another, there are no winners or losers," said KWASH chairman Tom Wye after emerging from a separate meeting with hospital bosses and St Richard's Hospital campaign leader, Abigail Rowe, at The Causeway, Goring.

"I'm delighted for the people of Worthing.

"The campaigns have played a tremendous part.

"The voice of the people has been heard.

"There's no doubt about that whatsoever."

Mr Wye added: "But this should never have been about downgrading health services in West Sussex.

"It's a very sombre mood this morning, I feel deeply sorry for the people of Chichester and the staff at St Richard's Hospital."

Campaigner Derek Hitchon, 61, from Broadwater Road, said: "The whole campaign has been about all of the people in West Sussex and it's important to remember that, but I'm immensely proud of the efforts from the people of Worthing."

Catherine Hedger, 22, from Dominion Road, added: "Despite the cheers and clapping today, until the rubber stamp of approval has been given we won't be celebrating fully.

"It's been a long campaign but worth it every step of the way."

Click here to find out how the Herald and KWASH have joined to help people get to Copthorne.

Comments

After the Herald broke the story at 8.45am this morning (Wednesday, May 28), musician Alexander Sedlmayr of Atombuzz, a member of the Live Support Machine collective, which held gigs in aid of KWASH last summer, said: "All the work that everyone has done in the past couple of years looks like it has finally paid off.

"Must be sad for those in Chi though."

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I am over the moon altogether about our hospitals.

Worthing to be it the main.

I am sad about St Richards because it shouldn't have been a fight against other hospitals campaign in the first place.

Why downgrade anywhere at all?

That's disappointing all round.

But it is FAB for Worthing.

It was a long hard slog all the way, I could cry, with delight.

Thank you all for the support you gave to KWASH all around.

Eileen Forster. KWASH.

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