Thousands sign petition to ‘save’ specialist care services at hospital as merger plans considered

More than 11,000 people have backed a campaign to save specialist services at a leading Sussex hospital.

Proposals have been put forward to merge the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead with a new organisation to be formed by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals and Western Sussex Hospitals Foundation Trust.

But a patient action group called Save Our Specialist Services – SOSS – is concerned about the merger and is urging the newly elected foundation’s public governors to protect future access to the hospital’s vital services for patients from all over the UK.

More than 11,000 have signed a protest petition with many sharing stories of how the Queen Victoria has helped them.

Mum-of-two Ali Parks was referred to QVH after treatment for a lifethreatening brain tumour left her with a catelogue of side effects including severe facial palsy and said it was an’incredible service’.

“I travel 160 miles round trip to receive my treatment as there is nothing where I live that provides that service,” she said.

“I am seen in the eye clinic where I’ve had two surgeries under the incredible team there and I have received physio/Botox from the Facial Palsy clinic ever since.

“It is a long way to come but I would travel the length of the UK for the care I get there.

With their help, support, advice and care, I have made immense physical but almost more importantly psychological recovery.

“Please do not stop these services for people like me it is our lifeline and our hope, happiness and health depend on being able to access these specialist services.

“Words cannot describe the difference they have made and my fear is for people yet to start that same journey that may never get the care I have been lucky enough to receive if this acquisition goes ahead.”

Barbara Porter was a patient at QVH in 2017 and again 2019 for major skin grafts to both legs following separate accidents, and said the teams were ‘brilliant’.

“This hospital is the only one of its kind in southern England and patients are referred long distances to be treated.”

A spokesman for the Queen Victoria Hospital prevously said the hospital needed to consider a possible merger to secure its future.

It explained: “In November our board of directors committed to developing a strategic case, setting out in detail whether merger would help us to protect our specialist services.

“We expect to consider that in April 2021.”

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