West Sussex Hospital Remains Closed One Year After Temporary Shutdown

A year after its temporary closure, an NHS trust is facing accusations of “hiding behind a cloak of confidentiality” due to its failure to offer updates regarding a hospital in West Sussex. The Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust had previously announced in November 2023 that the Zachary Merton Hospital, located in Rustington, would undergo a temporary closure following the discovery of water leaks, damaged ceilings, and problems with its heating system. A year subsequent to this announcement, a spokesperson for the trust has stated that no definitive decision has been reached concerning the hospital’s long-term future, emphasizing that patient safety and the provision of quality care remain its foremost priorities. James Walsh, the Member of Parliament for Littlehampton East, has characterized the situation as “outrageous,” according to reports from the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Mr. Walsh stated, “My reading of that situation is that we are being softened up. That this is going to cost too much and they can’t afford to do it, and they will therefore bring forward proposals to close Zachary Merton Hospital. That is very clearly on the cards. But they won’t say so. They are hiding behind a cloak of confidentiality.” A spokesperson for the NHS trust commented: “Since the hospital’s temporary closure, we’ve commissioned an independent condition survey which has found substantial works are required to bring the hospital to the right standard for our patients and staff, which also requires significant financial investment. Given the level of investment required, it’s important that we work closely with all our partners, so any funding supports patients in ways that are sustainable and fit for the future.”