Eastbourne: Government refutes claims no money given for new hospital

A Freedom of Information (FoI) request stated that nothing had been spent on proposed building work on new hospitals in Eastbourne, Bexhill or Hastings as part of the government’s new hospital programme.

It also revealed that no planning permission had been submitted.

But the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) refuted the FoI, stating that £9 million had been given to the hospitals so far “to support development of their plans for their new hospital”.

The Argus understands that work on the new Eastbourne hospital will not start before 2025, in line with the government’s pledge of 40 hospitals by 2030.

Eastbourne District General Hospital was built in 1977 (Image: The Argus)

A DHSC spokeswoman said claims by the Liberal Democrats that no money had been invested into a new Eastbourne hospital were “inaccurate” because it had given money for development of hospital plans.

The FoI from April 27 confirmed that East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust is “awaiting confirmation of the level of funding that it will receive” from the new hospital programme.

The FoI said no money had been spent on the new hospital and no money had been transferred from the government to begin building it.

A spokeswoman for the DHSC said: “Eastbourne District General, Conquest and Bexhill community hospitals scheme has received £9 million to date to support development of their plans for their new hospital.

“We remain committed to delivering all 40 new hospitals by 2030 as part of the biggest hospital building programme in a generation backed by £3.7 billion for the first four years.

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“We are developing a new national approach to constructing new hospitals so schemes can be built more rapidly, ensure value for money and we continue to work closely with all trusts on their plans.”

Josh Babarinde, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Eastbourne and Willingdon, said: “After years of local Conservative MPs dodging questions from residents about the brand new hospital we were promised in Eastbourne, the truth is finally out: as yet, the government has failed to give the trust the cash it needs to make it happen.

“Having been born in the DGH myself, it is especially disappointing to be taken for granted like this. Our town needs and deserves a brand new hospital without delay.

"This would put us in the best position possible to campaign for a return of key services like consultant-led maternity that we’ve lost over the years.”

But Conservative MP for Eastbourne and Bexhill Caroline Ansell said the Lib Dems “seem hellbent on doing Eastbourne down at every opportunity”.

She added: “The eventual shape and form of the massive investment to come to our hospital has been co-designed by our local NHS leaders. It is important to remember that those behind the plans brought this trust from special measures in 2015 to present day good and outstanding.

Main entrance to the Eastbourne District General Hospital

"It is the same team that brought us through the pandemic – they know what they are doing.

“I remain disappointed that some people are so negative about a once-in-a-generation investment in our town and they do so solely for political reasons. 

"It is harmful to the reputation of the hospital and its hardworking and committed staff who have worked so hard on the plans they have submitted. 

“It is important to note the NHS has three definitions of what a new hospital is. Any one of the proposals put forward would qualify. The process has been joint working between our local hospital team and the new hospital programme national team.  

Conquest Hospital in Hastings (Image: Google Maps)

“Planning and funding have already been agreed for the new elective hub for day surgery that will accelerate us through the Covid backlog. We can expect spades in the ground this year. This is an important part of the DGH redevelopment too." 

A spokesman for East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: "We continue to work with the new hospital programme on plans for our Eastbourne, Conquest and Bexhill sites.

“The trust’s scheme is in cohort four of the new hospital programme and the programme has a target for all new hospitals to be built by 2030.”

Cohort four of the new hospital scheme includes plans for building work “not before 2025” at 14 sites around the country.