HORSHAM HOSPITAL DEBATE GETS LOUDER
A campaign for a new acute hospital in Horsham's gathering momentum.
Health chiefs are meeting today to review services in the area - one of the key questions some want them to consider - should a new hospital be built in Horsham?
Liz Kitchen, the Leader of Horsham District Council, worries about access to current services. "There is a serious fear and concern over health in this district. It's not just Maternity and A&E; if you are taken ill and have to get to Redhill, it can take forever."
Under current plan's people have to travel to Redhill in a major emergency, and campaigner Sally Pavey tells Spirit FM news, that's causing all sorts of problems. "We've had a mum who was pregnant, rushing to try and get to Redhill - she ended up having the baby in the car park of the Cherry Tree pub."
And Mrs Pavey says with over 125,000 people living in Horsham, improved services really are needed. "The majority of patients that visit Redhill are from the Horsham and Crawley area. It can take over an hour to get to Redhill from here, if you're lucky.
Campaigners tell us there's cross-party support for a new acute hospital and are looking to the Primary Care Trust for action.
A rally's being organised in Horsham on Saturday, to demand a new acute hospital is built in the area.
The call-to-arms will be at the Forum from noon.
