Improving cardiology and ophthalmology services in East Sussex

A consultation on plans to improve the cardiology (heart) and ophthalmology (eye) services at hospitals in East Sussex closes on Friday 11 March.

The proposals aim to improve the care available in East Sussex and cut waiting times. They will also enable staff to develop their skills and expertise so more patients in East Sussex can benefit from new medical treatments and technologies.

The two separate sets of proposals have been developed over the last year by hospital doctors, GPs and other health professionals. They looked at feedback from people who use and work in local services alongside evidence of what works well elsewhere in the NHS.

For cardiology, clinicians want to create new cardiac response teams at the emergency departments (EDs) at Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital, and to concentrate the most highly specialised cardiac services at one or other of the hospital sites.

Clinicians believe that specialist heart teams based at each ED would mean emergency patients start receiving specialist care more quickly. For patients who need the most complex treatments, concentrating highly specialist care at one site would enable staff to develop greater expertise in new treatments, making them available to all East Sussex patients who need them.

For ophthalmology, clinicians want to consolidate the services currently provided at Eastbourne District General Hospital, Bexhill Hospital and Conquest Hospital into two sites at Eastbourne District General Hospital and Bexhill Hospital. This would enable patients to have quicker access to tests and treatment and more input from the most senior clinicians. It would also enable one-stop clinics, reducing the number of appointments patients need to attend.

The cardiology and ophthalmology proposals are not linked, so will be consulted on separately. However, the consultations will run in parallel to make it easier and simpler for people who have an interest in both.

An engagement event is taking place on Monday 7 March from 1 pm to 3.30 pm at Four Courts Community Centre, Sydney Close, St Leonards on Sea TN38 9DD.

You can find further details about how to feedback on the consultations and book a free ticket for the engagement event on the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website.

Published: 2nd March 2022

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