Health plans thwarted

Hastings and Rye MP Michael Foster said in the House of Commons that health bosses' proposals to set up one county-wide Primary Care Trust (PCT) would lead to cash being siphoned off to help debt-ridden PCTs elsewhere.

Officials from Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) recommended an East Sussex PCT to the Government, despite opposition.

The organisation, which sets budgets and allocates money to NHS Trusts across both counties, suggested the merger in order to reduce its 100million debt.

But on Tuesday it was announced in Parliament that Hastings and St Leonards and Bexhill and Rother PCTs would merge to become Hastings and Rother PCT.

Bosses at both Trusts were strongly against the original proposal, which would have come in force in October if it had been given the go-ahead.

Mr Foster said: "This is fantastic news.

"The extra cash we get given for our special needs will stay in the area and go on the services it is meant to instead of being creamed off by the better off."

Bexhill MP Greg Barker said: "This is an important victory for the locally focused NHS we all use in this area. A smaller PCT will be an important ally in fighting the government's cuts to local health spending being forced on us by the Strategic Health Authority.

"I also hope the new PCT will stand shoulder to shoulder with the local community in resisting any plans to downgrade services at the Conquest."

Rother District Council joined the chorus of approval.

It said: "This is the option that the council, along with the primary care trusts and our public, fought hard to persuade the Strategic Health Authority to promote but which despite not receiving the Strategic Health Authority's support, has been announced by the Department of Health as the structure for the future."

Rother cabinet portfolio holder Cllr Ian Jenkins said: "Today's announcement is great news for the residents of our area.

"We have historically been served by two excellent Primary Care Trusts, who have worked closely together in the provision of high quality services, and who will now build on this and will move forward strongly into the future.

"This is a victory for common sense and will ensure that the providers of these vital services remain close to the people whom they serve."