Urgent plea to Milburn for hospital

The Local Councils Joint Working Committee on Horsham Health Facilities, set up in 1992 to monitor hospital facilities, has accused Mr Milburn of ignoring the views of local people and councils.

In a letter, chairman Joan Thurston told him: "We consider the proposals by the Surrey and Sussex Hospital Trust and West Sussex Health Authority to downgrade Crawley Hospital and transfer essential services to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill are totally unacceptable and do not reflect the feelings and needs of the area."

The letter points out the plans had evoked great opposition locally.

It adds that Redhill is hard to reach from the Horsham area and that the East Surrey Hospital is already struggling to cope with its current workload.

She wrote: "This fact, however, is seemingly ignored, even after the resignations, following public outcry, of very senior personnel thought to be instrumental in the inception of such unpopular decisions.

"The removal of such departments as accident and emergency and maternity to Redhill is, in our opinion, a retrograde step, in view of Government plans for considerable housing development in the next few years in the area and at a time when we are being discouraged in the use of our cars.

"The only solution is to build a new hospital with fully up-to-date facilities for this already large community as soon as possible. The infrastructure must be in place to provide for current needs and for the future development.

"Where are the Brown's billions? It seems every week the Government announces new money for the NHS, but where is it?

"The Dome was built in two years, why not a hospital in less than five?"

The letter was sent at the same time as Crawley Hospital Campaign has written to Crawley MP Laura Moffatt urging her to tell Prime Minister Tony Blair and Alan Milburn they are ignoring the wishes of more than 80 per cent of local people who want to keep services at Crawley Hospital.