Home / Health / Chichester Cath Lab Moves to Worthing Amid Patient Fears
Chichester Cath Lab Moves to Worthing Amid Patient Fears
1 Apr
Summary
- Heart lab at St Richard's Hospital closed due to ventilation issues.
- The relocated facility will affect approximately 300 patients annually.
- Concerns raised over elderly patients facing longer travel for appointments.
A cardiology catheterisation laboratory previously located at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester has been relocated to Worthing Hospital. This facility closure occurred in January 2025 because of issues with its ventilation system. The relocation affects approximately 300 patients annually who require pacemaker procedures.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust stated the decision aligns with new national guidelines mandating cath labs be situated in hospitals with multiple labs for enhanced safety and efficiency. Vital services will be centralized at St Richard's, including the relocation of Worthing Hospital's stroke department. The trust emphasized that urgent heart attack care and other cardiology services at St Richard's remain unaffected.
A previous campaign against the relocation garnered over 13,000 signatures, with significant worries about increased travel burdens for elderly patients. The local MP expressed disappointment but welcomed planned investments in St. Richard's cardiology services, including a new diagnostic CT scanning service. The cath lab at St. Richard's had been operating only three days a week prior to its closure.
