WSG VOTE SHOWS MASSIVE OPPOSITION TO FFF OPTIONS

The results were presented in a letter ( see alongside) to chief executive of West Sussex Primary Care Trust, John Wilderspin, by WSG editor John Hammond at the trust headquarters on Thursday last week. Also present were MPs Tim Loughton and Nick Herbert and Major Tom Wye of KWASH campaign.

The vote clearly reflected the massive opposition to the three options put forward by the trust. Mr Wilderspin made no comment about the vote.

Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham said:"Congratulations to the West Sussex Gazette and its readers for doing their bit in responding to the flawed 'Fit For the Future' consultation exercise.

" As with every single other survey, petition and letter writing campaign it is abundantly clear that these proposals are not wanted and not trusted by virtually every patient and clinician who has seen them, together with their elected representatives.

"The longer the consultation has gone on, the stronger and more comprehensive the opposition has become and there is now no excuse for the PCT not to listen to the people. It must seriously look at the missing Fourth Option we have advocated all along,which will retain more than one major acute hospital in West Sussex.'"

Major Tom Wye of KWASH said: "The massive 98.8 per cent rejection of the PCT options reflected in the West Sussex Gazette petition is yet another confirmation that the good people of West Sussex will not accept the options currently on offer. The public, and clinicians, know that they will not work and are not prepared to sit back and let them be implemented.

"John Wilderspin has always said that the PCT is prepared to listen. I hope they have been listening for the last 16 months because I will be the happiest man in the world if I can shake John's hand after the announcement of the PCT final decision and say: 'You said you would listen and you have kept your promise, thank you.' That can only happen if the current options are discarded and the option worked up by local clinicians is accepted. "

Nick Herbert, MP for Arundel and South Downs, said: ""The Gazette has done a terrific job in drawing attention to the proposed hospital downgrades, giving a platform to readers' concerns and exposing the weakness of the Primary Care Trust's case. Its poll has demonstrated once again that the overwhelming majority of local people are opposed to all of the options put forward by the PCT. I strongly endorse the Gazette's call for a workable fourth option to see A&E and maternity services retained at all three acute hospitals in West Sussex."

For full coverage on latest developments in the fight against Fit For the Future proposals see West Sussex Gazette November 7