Local Lib Dems join hospital vigils

12.25.02pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 11th Dec 2006

Norman Baker is joined by Lib Dems from Seaford at the DGH vigil.

Norman Baker MP was joined by fellow Lib Dems and political figures from across the spectrum at the weekend as vigils took place in Eastbourne and Haywards Heath in protest at the proposed downgrades to two of our major local hospitals.

Norman Baker joins Mid Sussex Parliamentary Spokesperson Serena Tierney at the PRH vigil.

Both the District General Hospital (DGH) in Eastbourne, and Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Haywards Heath have come onto the government's cut-back radar in recent months and local people are outraged.

Speaking after the DGH vigil on Saturday, Norman said: "The proposals to downgrade both the hospital here, and that in Haywards Heath, will have a major impact on my constituents.

"Any cut backs at the DGH will be of great concern to residents in Seaford, Polegate and local villages such as Alfriston. I cannot see how it can be beneficial for patients from Seaford to have to travel all the way to Hastings when there is a perfectly good facility here in Eastbourne."

Seaford County Councillor, Jon Freeman, was also in attendance at the vigil, and added: "We are campaigning locally in Seaford for more facilities in the town alongside retaining facilities in Eastbourne.

"We are pushing strongly for better community facilities in Seaford in line with core Lib Dem beliefs in localisation of health care. We will continue to campaign for increased health provision for the town, and that includes keeping the DGH in Eastbourne."