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Original poster

HELP stop the downgrading of Princess Royal Hospital in Mid Sussex

16 replies

justsayNO · 13/08/2007 23:04

I am on the fund raising, media and campaign groups (I must learn to say no!) to try to stop the downgrading of our A&E and maternity services at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.
I would really love to hear from anyone who has been involved in other campaigns across the country, especially successful ones (if there are any) about how you raised money, got good media coverage and managed to galvanise the local population, and anything you wish you had done. Thannks in advance and please do let me know anything which might help...

OP posts:
Original poster
justsayNO · 14/08/2007 08:57

Bump

OP posts:
LIZS · 14/08/2007 09:05

So where would you have to go instead . Crawley was downgraded several years back despite much protest and the fact that it puts extra strain on resources at East Surrey in Redhill, one of the most budget busting NHS trusts in UK.

Original poster
justsayNO · 14/08/2007 09:10

The plan is for a midwife led unit at PRH and relocate the consultant led unit to merge with the one in Brighton. So we woould be able to go there or Redhill - in both cases stretching overstretched resources.

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massivebigpantsface · 14/08/2007 09:12

same problem for us here in east sussex, Eastbourne and Hastings are both under threat. Don't know much about the ins and outs of the campaign but you may find it helpful to look at this campaign website

good luck!

massivebigpantsface · 14/08/2007 09:14

Thats interesting about Brighton because I gather that If Eastbourne services were to take a cut we would also have to use some of Brightons services.

Original poster
justsayNO · 14/08/2007 09:14

Oh I forgot to say some mums from here do end up in Eastbourne too, so if that is underthreat too we'll all be off to Hastings...

OP posts:
elasticbandstand · 14/08/2007 09:16

or the crowborough birthing unit,
or at home.
you don't seem to have any choice now

massivebigpantsface · 14/08/2007 09:23

yes, throughout my pg my mw kept on and on about me having a homebirth even though I had already said I didn't want to. Even at my debrief afterwards they said I would be 'ideal' for a home birth next time. Well I wonder why on earth they would be trying to encourage that against the mothers wishes

LIZS · 14/08/2007 09:33

I'm sure you could find anacdotal evidence of East Surrey already failing to cope since Crawley did similar (some travel from Horsham apparently as well as from towards Croydon). There was an article in Surrey Mirror a couple of months back regarding a poorly handled delivery.

Reallytired · 14/08/2007 10:30

They have done the same to Hemel Hospital. The maternity units of St Albans, Edgware, Hemel have all been closed. Everyone has to go to Watford.

The Blair/ Brown maternity unit closure programme is nationwide. Unfortunately the Tory party is not doing a proper job of being an opposition party and critising this policy.

CharleeWeasley · 14/08/2007 10:31

There is a huge campaigne here to stop the downgrading of Chichester hospital we have had parades and protests and everything you can't walk far without seeing a signpost to save St Richards!

eekra · 15/08/2007 07:36

"Thats interesting about Brighton because I gather that If Eastbourne services were to take a cut we would also have to use some of Brightons services."

And if St Richards in Chichester is downgraded, people who live to the east of Chichester would be expected to use the services in Brighton!

I wasn't aware there were so many other cuts proposed across the same geographical area.

Mindles · 15/08/2007 07:45

When I had ds at the PRH in Jan, there was a woman in the bed next to me who had had to come from Crawley.

I don't understand why they think downgrading the services is a good idea when the hospital can hardly cope with its patients already - the mat. unit was so busy when we were in there the mws were absolutely rushed off their feet and there was not an empty bed to be seen. As far as I am aware the situation is pretty much the same at Brighton anyway.

I know this post is more a moan than anything constructive, but this really bugs me!

JustsayNo I am in Burgess Hill - can I do anything to help?

massivebigpantsface · 15/08/2007 08:26

eekra - scary isn't it!

Original poster
justsayNO · 15/08/2007 09:06

It is v scary- planned changes stretch from Chichester across to Hastings. There is a good basic article explaining the main points in this months Sussex Life. There are problems now before of any of the downgrading. I had a friend who was told to go to Eastbourne because Bton and PRH were shut to admissions.
Mindles - yes I am sure you can help in some way. We are still in the planning stages with most things but I can get in contact (not sure how!) when there are more things going on. Thanks for your offer

OP posts:
2shoes · 15/08/2007 15:57

this is a worry. dd's sn school is just down the road from there.When she had a massive fit and stopped breathing that is where she went.

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