Days left to have your say on hospital

The consultation deadline for the controversial Fit For the Future plans ends at 9am on Wednesday, November 14, and campaigners are urging supporters of the hospital to write their letters as soon as possible.

"Everyone must write," MP for Chichester Andrew Tyrie said. "Please, everybody who came on the rally on October 27 must write to the PCT. Please also tell your neighbours, and everybody else who couldn't make the rally, to do so. Five minutes of your time today putting pen to paper or sending an email could make all the difference."

As previously reported by the Observer the PCT has put forward three options for the future of hospitals in West Sussex.

One of the options sees St Richard's downgraded in favour of Worthing, while the remaining two options would result in it becoming the county's major general hospital.

Mr Tyrie said that it was vital that everyone who has not written to the PCT since the summer writes to the West Sussex Primary Care Trust in support of St Richard's.

"Remember all the letters we wrote before the consultation began at the end of June the PCT has said they will ignore," Mr Tyrie said.

"So we all have to write again. We want to save our major trauma A & E and maternity at St Richard's."