The Friends of Crowborough Hospital are naturally very disappointed that the Trust which runs the majority of services at Crowborough Hospital has been judged as “Inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission. However, most people in Crowborough go to Pembury for acute hospital services.

Despite the overall rating for ESHT, the report on the community services, including community hospitals, rates them as good, showing that generally they are a beacon of good practice. There is much criticism in the CQC report about poor communication between the Trust top management and staff on the ground. There is also criticism of under-staffing. The fact that the community services are rated so well shows that local staff pull together to provide good services for local people. This is particularly true of the birthing centre whose staff are often re-located at short notice to Hastings, a system which is much criticised in the report. Indeed, in the Maternity section of the report on Conquest hospital, the inspectors praise the two midwife-led units (Crowborough & Eastbourne) and say “the two midwifery-led units had a positive impact on the service overall and undoubtedly improved the Trust performance overall”. The Friends are very grateful to the staff in Crowborough hospital whom we know always go the extra mile, often in difficult circumstances.

It is pleasing that Crowborough Hospital is praised for innovative use of certain equipment which we can identify as equipment donated by the Friends.

The Friends will offer all the support they can to the maintenance and improvement of services in Crowborough Hospital, whoever provides it.

Chantal Wilson

Chairman, Friends of Crowborough Hospital