FIGHTING FUND LAUNCHED TO SAVE HOSPITAL

A staggering 20,000 has been raised already in the appeal launched by MPs Nick Herbert and Nicholas Soames in support of the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

Mr Soames said this week: "There have been some extremely generous donations from supporters, since the appeal was launched just over two weeks ago. It has been incredible to see the amount of money in 1, 2 and 5 donations from people, and it shows just how passionately everyone cares about retaining services at the hospital."

He said the appeal was intended to cover the everyday cost of running the campaign to keep all the services at the Princess Royal hospital, publicising it, and also funding a health economist.

He added: "We need someone to validate our work to knock down the Fit For the Future options. We need someone who can argue accurately and in depth on the adverse and unacceptable impacts the options would have. We are determined to put forward the best-possible case," he said.

"One thing the health authority cannot do is to get clinicians and doctors on their side. They are all totally opposed to the proposals. There are enough clinicians to say that they are not clinically safe.

"This applies to A&E, maternity and specialist service alike. I am hoping that we can squash all this without going so far as a judicial review. But if we have to we will fight our case at a judicial review."

For full story and all West Sussex campaign coverage, see West Sussex Gazette September 12