Support floods in for the Friends of Worthing hospital

Last month, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Southlands in Shoreham, Worthing Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, confirmed it had invited professional catering providers and retailers to put forward proposals to run the shops, as well as its in-house visitor restaurants, as part of a review into improving services.

The Friends invited people to complete a survey about their experience in the Friends’ shops.

Ron Noakes, chairman of the Friends of Worthing Hospital, said: “The response from the public has been incredible, absolutely amazing.”

Some 300 people were asked whether they would prefer a high-street name to be running shops.

Mr Noakes said: “Everybody, without exception, has put ‘no’.”

Malcolm Brett, the chairman of the League of Friends of Southlands Hospital, said responses to the survey had included many ‘heartwarming comments’.

A statement issued by the two Friends groups and the Friends of Chichester Hospitals earlier this month said: “We are concerned that there is a risk that some services may not continue if the Friends shops are closed, and indeed there is also concern that the Friends of Southlands Hospital would cease to exist.

“It is hoped that people will express their support for the Friends’ charities directly to the Trust, by writing to Mike Viggers, Chairman, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, at either Worthing Hospital, Lyndhurst Road, Worthing BN11 2DH, or at St Richard’s Hospital, Spitalfield Lane, Chichester, PO19 6SE.”

A separate online petition, started by a member of the public, has amassed more than 950 signatures.

Lynne Emery from Lancing wrote on the petition: “It’s such an important part of the hospital with caring and dedicated volunteers.