Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden, was pleased to meet with local NHS leaders and The League of Friends of Uckfield Community Hospital to discuss the delivery of primary care and emergency services in Uckfield, and explore opportunities for an expansion to the hospital’s activity.
The League of Friends is a group of volunteers that have been supporting Uckfield Community Hospital for over 25 years to ensure that its patients and staff have a better experience at the hospital. With help from donations from the public, this support includes purchasing equipment to enhance existing facilities or introduce new treatments to improve local service. Nusrat has been working closely with The League of Friends and previously attended the opening of the newly refurbished Uckfield Digital X-ray department.
At this meeting, local NHS leaders including Chloe Rogers, Sussex Community Foundation Trust Area Director, and Jessica Britton, Executive Managing Director for East Sussex, NHS Sussex were quizzed on future strategy of the Integrated Care board and on the opportunities to expand the current provisions at Uckfield Community Hospital, including the day surgery unit, radiology services and an inpatient care unit for short-term rehabilitation before discharge.
Nusrat Ghani said: “I was delighted to convene a meeting with local NHS leaders to discuss the delivery of primary care and emergency services in Wealden and to explore opportunities for expansion of these provisions. The hospital is an excellent service for our local communities, helping to relieve the pressure on A&E departments in nearby hospitals. I would like to thank The League of Friends of Uckfield Community Hospital for their continued steadfast support for the service. I look forward to continuing working with them as well as Sussex NHS leaders and providers to ensure that for the benefit of local residents, the facilities at Uckfield Community Hospital are used to their full potential.”
Statement from The League of Friends of Uckfield Hospital: "Uckfield Community Hospital LOF are very concerned by the underuse of the community hospital and were delighted that Nus Ghani shared our concerns. We all felt the new NHS Integrated Care Services is in an ideal position to improve things."
