Plans for new elective surgery hub in Eastbourne to go before councillors

NHS plans to create an elective surgery hub at Eastbourne District General Hospital are set to go in front of councillors later this week. 

On Thursday (March 2), the East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) are set to consider whether the creation of the new facility would constitute a ‘substantial variation’ to the county’s health services.

If the committee found this to be the case, it would form a review board to scrutinise the plans in detail and make recommendations on how the proposals could be improved. 

The proposal comes as part of national plans to increase the number of elective surgery hubs around the UK. These hubs are intended to reduce waiting lists by focussing on high volume routine surgeries.

The hub, expected to open in November 2024, would offer elective day surgeries in a range of areas, such as: urology; breast surgery; vascular; maxillofacial; ear, nose and throat; gynaecology; orthopaedic; and community dental.

Currently, such surgeries generally take place at Uckfield Community Hospital. The new hub would take around 29 per cent the caseload, which would come to around 179 day surgeries each year. 

Generally speaking, patients would have to travel shorter distances to access these surgeries in Eastbourne instead of Uckfield. A small number of patients — the NHS says around seven a year — would have to travel further, however.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust already has planning permission to create the building the new hub will be housed within. The three-storey building — to be built in place of the former Polegate Ward and an area used as a staff car park — is also expected to contain a 24-bed hospital ward.