Sudbury WATCH grew out of the Walnuttree Hospital Action Group (WHAC) when the local health authority, trying to save money, attempted to shut down all Sudbury's health services and move them to West Suffolk hospital at Bury St. Following a long campaign and 2 court cases, the Secretary of State for Health appointed a Reconfiguration Panel to review the situation. After interviewing many local people and looking at all the evidence, they decided that on balance we were right and all services in Sudbury were retained. However, the health authority were allowed to close the beds at Walnuttree Hospital except for 12 NHS which are now provided in a specially built unit at Hazel Court Nursing Home. Leonards Hospital and Acton Lane Clinic, including X-Ray, are now installed in a brand new £10.5 million community health clinic in Chilton on the outskirts of Sudbury. The new facility opened in January 2015. The members of WATCH are drawn from individuals who have a concerned and active interest in local health care. The current membership have experience of district nursing, governorship and employment at local hospitals, health and social care law and training, local councils and community leadership. New members are invited to join as and when vacancies arise. WATCH takes action to bring to the attention of local health authorities problems, missing services, health deprivation and health systems that are not working well for local people, as well as suggesting and encouraging improvements where possible. While we cannot take up individual cases, other than in exceptional circumstances, we will pursue important issues, including failure of service. You can contact us by sending a private message on Facebook, clicking the message tab above.
