Campaigners urge NHS not to close cardiology lab

Nearly 9,000 people have signed a petition expressing concerns over the possible closure of a cardiology cath lab in St Richard's Hospital in Chichester

Nearly 9,000 people have signed a petition expressing concerns over the possible closure of a cardiology catheterisation lab in a West Sussex hospital.

The facility at St Richard's in Chichester has been closed since January due to ventilation system issues. It would cost £2m to fix and take up to two years to complete, according to the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Heart patients told BBC Radio Sussex they are having to travel up to 20 miles (32 km) to Brighton and Worthing for treatment.

Chief medical officer Prof Katie Urch said the trust understood "the strength of feeling that patients – and indeed, our staff – have towards their local services".

"We have a duty to ensure any decision about our clinical services, especially one involving significant public investment, results in the safest, most effective and sustainable care for our patients," she added.

"Another option is to relocate the pacing service to our two modern cath labs in Worthing which have spare capacity."

Prof Urch said this could improve overall service, and out-of-hours cover for cardiac patients, as the St Richard's cath lab is open three days a week and does not provide an out-of-hours service.

Jess Brown-Fuller, MP for Chichester, backs the petition, saying if the closure went ahead, it would "undermine the hospital's ability to deliver comprehensive care".

'Nightmare for elderly people'

"Permanent closure would force patients to travel much further and it creates barriers for elderly people," she added.

"I would hope the pressure of the public demonstrates the importance of this service."

A caller told BBC Radio Sussex "if you have a problem with your ticker, you need assurance treatment is right at your doorstep".

Jon Woosley, who lives in Bognor Regis, had a pacemaker fitted in May 2024 and attends regular appointments in Chichester.

"If they close the cath lab, it would be a nightmare especially for older people, " the 60-year-old said.

Prof Urch said Chichester patients were "routinely referred" to hospitals in Southampton, Worthing, Portsmouth, Brighton, and Hammersmith in London.

"Before committing to a permanent solution, we want to take time to assess all clinical and financial considerations, and hear from patients and staff," she added.

She said the St Richard's cath lab was only used for pacemaker and implantable defibrillator procedures, accounting for "just 5% of the trust's total complex cardiac activity".