Alison Griffiths, MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton and Councillor Andy Cooper, Chairman of the Parish Council, invite residents to their Public Meeting about the future of Zachary Merton Hospital.

Alison Griffiths, MP says: "Rustington is a jewel on our Sussex coastline and, with summer fast approaching, there is, as always, much to be enthusiastic about.

Yet, sadly, there is also cause for concern because residents across Rustington are anxious and extremely concerned about the future of Zachary Merton Hospital.

Services at the Hospital closed on what was described as a temporary basis in 2023. That closure has now been made permanent, and residents feel they were never properly consulted. Like you, I am angry about what has happened, and how it has been handled by the NHS.

Councillor Cooper and I have spoken to people who worry about longer waits for discharge, and to carers who fear additional pressure on already stretched routines. In a community with a significant older population, proximity to care matters.

We were promised there would be proper engagement about the future of the site. That has not happened. Decisions have been taken with no opportunity for public scrutiny, without transparent evidence being presented, and no clear plan.
That is why Councillor Cooper and I are hosting a Public Meeting with the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust on Thursday 21 May 2026 from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm, in the Village Memorial Hall at The Woodlands Centre.

The event will provide residents with the opportunity to hear from the Chief Executive of the Trust, Siobhan Melia, and to put questions to her.

You will need to register your interest in attending the Public Meeting on 21 May 2026 via the QR code below, OR by writing to: Rustington Parish Council, 34 Woodlands Avenue, Rustington, BN16 3HB. Email: enquiry@rustington-pc.gov.uk

Together, we will stand up for our much-valued Community Hospital. This is about fairness and accountability. Rustington deserves better."