Stephen Cass, chief executive of Worthing and Southlands Hospitals Trust, outlined the merger before a question-and-answer session at Southlands Hospital.

"We're not asking should we merge," said Mr Cass.

"We think the information is so compelling that we are going to decide to merge.

"What we're asking for is your views and what issues you would like us to take into account."

Patients benefit

Mr Cass said the merger could benefit patients by improving the trust's ability to cater for their needs.

"It's about local services and expanding day surgeries which is good for local people," he said.

However, he admitted the change would threaten the jobs of some staff members particularly those on the board as two of each position would not be needed to run the merged trusts.

Hospital battle

Trust chairman, Tom Robson, said: "When we do this we will not be looking at the staff dealing with the public.

"That would be a big mistake."

Answering criticism about the Fit for the Future "battle", Mr Robson said: "We didn't like the winners and losers and I don't think many people did.

"We need to get rid of all this talk of we won and they lost and focus on what's going to be right for West Sussex."

Frightening people

A member of the public asked why the merger was never suggested before despite spending two years going through the Fit for the Future consultation.

And another person in the audience said: "Why wasn't this done then rather than beating both hospitals with a big stick and frightening people?"

Mr Cass said the trusts had been waiting for the right time to discuss a merger.

"The information simply wasn't available many months ago," he said.
"It takes two to make a merger."

April Fool?

Another concern was that patient services would suffer, but Mr Cass said he hoped the merger would mean more services on all sites.

Both trust boards will meet on December 15 to decide whether or not to merge.

If the move goes ahead, they will become one trust on April 1, 2009.


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