Staff shortages sees clinic moved from Bexhill Hospital

The last consultant led ENT clinic took place at Bexhill on October 25.

Patient Jan Lambert, of Ward Way, expressed her dismay at the news.

She said: “I had an appointment last week with the registrar at the ENT clinic, Bexhill Hospital.

“The previous day I had contacted my consultant’s secretary as I had two appointment letters for October - one with consultant Mr Baer who I had discovered had recently retired. And she informed me my correct appointment would be with Mr P Kirkland’s ENT team would be my last at Bexhill Hospital as the clinic was closing.” She added: “Meaning we will have to battle The Ridge congestion at peak times, hope for a parking space once arriving at the Conquest Hospital for all our ENT appointments, when we have an excellent ENT clinic locally - not for much longer it now seems!” However health bosses say the move is only temporary.

Michelle Elphick, general manager, Surgery, Anaesthetics & Diagnostics Division, said: “As a temporary measure we are relocating the consultant led ENT clinic at Bexhill Hospital to the Conquest Hospital due to the recent retirement of one of our ENT consultants and a shortage of ENT nursing staff. A reduced number of specialist ENT clinical staff means we need to make the best use of the specialised staff we have.

“We would apologise for the inconvenience this will cause patients who have normally attended this ENT clinic at Bexhill.

“An ENT speciality doctor led clinic continues to run every Thursday morning at Bexhill Hospital.

“We have been trying to recruit a new ENT consultant which is proving difficult due to a national shortage of consultants in this speciality along with our efforts to recruit additional ENT nursing staff.”

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