The West Sussex Primary Care Trust and the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority claim their hospital downgrading plans have the support and backing of local clinicians.

The KWASH campaign seriously challenges this claim.  On 3 October in a presentation to the West Sussex County Council's health overview and scrutiny committee, KWASH campaigners Dr Richard Venn and Dr Lui Forni, both consultants at Worthing and Southlands Hospitals launched an updated version of their paper 'Fit for Whose Future' which outlines clear evidence based clinical opposition to the plans.

Click here to read Fit for Whose Future?

Health bosses also claim that local GPs support the proposals however fears and suspicions amongst campaigners were raised when they were unable to name any who backed the downgrade plans.

The KWASH campaign has surveyed local GPs asking whether they support or oppose the plans.  So far, 50 of the 138 survey have responded with 49 saying they have not been consulted in any way, and 48 saying they opposed the Fit for the Future plans.

GPs were given the choice of remaining anonymous if they wished, however most were happy to publicly register their opposition.  The list of those opposed is published below:

·        Dr D Clarke
·        Dr A Ruffer
·        Dr A Goossens
·        Dr Lynch
·        Dr K Patel
·        Dr R Nines
·        Dr D Starbuck
·        Dr J Newman
·        Dr N Lyons
·        Dr J Ellwood
·        Dr D Crosby
·        Dr R L Woodward Court
·        Dr A Cook
·        Dr A Funnell
·        Dr S Pegge
·        Dr G Tucker
·        Dr J Bartlett
·        Dr C Varty
·        Dr R Sayers
·        Dr T von Biel
·        Dr E Archer
·        Dr S Campbell
·        Dr A Cairns
·        Dr N Trounce
·        Dr Farrer-Brown
·        Dr C Anderson
·        Dr B Allan
·        Dr R Orpin
·        Dr M Haque
·        Dr T Critchfield
·        Dr J Peskett
·        Dr R Saghani
·        Dr Duckering
·        Dr Shlosberg
·        Dr J Montgomery