A high-tech heart procedure theatre at a hospital will be closed for good, despite opposition to the plans.
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board and University Hospitals Sussex have confirmed that modernisation of its cardiac catheterisation services will mean patients for minimally invasive heart or pacemaker procedures will no longer be treated at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester.
The change will affect around 300 people a year in West Sussex requiring pacemaker procedures, who will now instead be treated at Worthing Hospital.
There will be no change to urgent or emergency heart attack care, or other cardiology services at the hospital.
The cardiac catheterisation laboratory (Cath Lab) at St Richard’s was originally closed in January last year after an inspection found a major fault in the air exchange system.
New guidance suggests that Cath Labs should operate within sites that have two or more labs, to improve patient safety and efficiency, meaning the facility will now move to Worthing.
Professor Katie Urch, chief medical officer at University Hospitals Sussex, said: “We know St Richard’s is a much-loved community asset, and we never take decisions regarding its services lightly.
“At the same time, our new strategy’s vision is to provide clinical excellence everywhere we provide care for patients.
“Meanwhile, we will continue to invest in cardiology in Chichester, maintaining the cardiology ward and outpatients clinics for patients, as well as developing a modern non-invasive diagnostic CT scanning service, which is safer and faster for patients.”
She added that other vital services would be centralised at St Richard’s, including the stroke department in Worthing which will close next year and move to a new acute stroke centre in Chichester.
The news is a blow to campaigners who had fought to keep the Cath Lab open, with a petition against the closure signed by more than 13,000 people.
Jess Brown-Fuller, MP for Chichester, also wrote to the trust last year, expressing “serious concerns” at the plans.
Ms Brown-Fuller said she was “deeply disappointed” at the decision and was seeking assurances that staff at the Cath Lab would have their roles protected.
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Professor Andrew Rhodes, joint chief medical officer at NHS Sussex, said: “Recently published national guidance from the national clinical director for heart disease states that Cath Labs should only be commissioned or refurbished as part of a wider review of cardiology, reflecting the changing practice in diagnostic cardiology.
“Further, Cath Labs should be used for 40 hours a week to ensure good use of resources.
“By consolidating Cath Lab activity at Worthing Hospital and following the networked model, the trust is meeting safety standards for Cath Lab procedures, and also enabling new investment in modern, non-invasive heart diagnostics at St Richard’s.”
The trust said that prior to the closure of the Cath Lab, restrictions on its use meant it was underused and only open three days a week, meaning most patients requiring treatment already travelled to larger centres in Worthing, Brighton or Portsmouth.