Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, has recently visited Crowborough Hospital to discuss its ongoing temporary closure of the Minor Injury Unit with representatives of Friends of Crowborough Hospital.
The Unit in Crowborough closed in August, initially for around eight weeks; however, in November the temporary closure was extended. Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust has said the closure is to focus staff and resources at Uckfield and Lewes. A review of the closure is due in February 2022.
In November the Trust said “it would not be possible to increase the capacity of the Crowborough MIU due to the very limited space on site, which is made even more challenging by the Covid-19 social distancing measures still in effect across the NHS.”
However, the Friends of Crowborough have said this is not correct as there is a large, good quality clinical space available to be utilised at the site, ensuring the MIU is ready to reopen and can therefore be Covid-secure.
Nusrat Ghani MP said:
The Crowborough MIU is a fantastic facility and a key service for the local community, helping to relieve the pressure on A&E departments in nearby hospitals. I have been continuously making representations to the Trust and campaigned for its full reopening and I will continue to do so. I’m pleased to have visited the site to see the clinical space available and I will be holding further meetings with local health authorities to address the issue and have the Unit reopened as soon as possible.
Nusrat Ghani MP
Town Council
At its meeting earlier this month Crowborough Town Councillors discussed the continued closure.
The Council expressed concern that East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group may not be fully appreciating the benefit of the unit and the fact that it alleviates pressure from the Accident and Emergency Unit at nearby Pembury Hospital which is part of a neighbouring CCG. The Council decided to write to the Clinical Commissioning Group and Local MP to notify them of the Town Council’s concern over the continued closure of the Crowborough Minor Injuries Unit and to ask for assurance that the unit be re-opened, and services would then continue uninterrupted.
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