Council Agenda Item 75
Subject: Royal Sussex County Hospital Accident & Emergency Department
Date of meeting: 30 January 2025
Proposer: Councillor Birgit Miller
Seconder: Councillor Amanda Grimshaw
Ward(s) affected: All
Notice of Motion
Labour Group
1) That the RSCH serves a large area and is the regional trauma centre.
2) That insufficient space creates a stressful and overcrowded environment in A&E.
3) That difficulty of access to primary care in eastern Brighton and Hove means A&E and the urgent care centre function as primary care centres.
4) That winter increases in infectious diseases increase hospital admissions and can require temporary closure of wards as infection control measures.
Therefore, resolves to:
1) Request that the Leader of the Council write to the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust to request that :-
(a) A a contingency plan is put in place for adding short-term capacity while redevelopment is in progress.
(b) A detailed analysis is shared with the Council of the planning, specification and futureproofing of the new look A&E, with updated time scales for delivery.
2) Request officers to consider, alongside local NHS providers, how to reduce demand through enhanced signposting and redirection, as well as through increased take up of vaccinations against flu, covid and other respiratory diseases.