Nearly 9,000 Sign Petition To Save Chichester Heart Lab

Almost 9,000 people have signed a petition urging health bosses to save a vital cardiology lab at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, which has been closed since January due to ventilation problems.

Fixing the cath lab could cost £2 million and take up to two years, according to the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, which is now considering permanently moving services to Worthing or Brighton.

The lab, used for pacemaker and defibrillator procedures, has been described as a lifeline by patients, who say travelling up to 20 miles for treatment would be especially difficult for elderly residents.

Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller has backed the campaign, warning that closure would “undermine the hospital’s ability to deliver comprehensive care.”

The Trust said it understands local concerns but must ensure “safe, effective and sustainable” services. A final decision has yet to be made.