Fighting for the future of Crawley’s NHS, Crawley Observer Column, Wednesday 11th March 2026

In 2024, Labour inherited a National Health Service broken by years of under-investment and under-ambition. The Darzi Review and 10 Year Health Plan for England created a roadmap for saving our NHS which the Government has now been working on for 20 months.

In that time we’ve seen one of the biggest ever drops in waiting lists, down by almost 2,000 in just our healthcare area, with an extra 5.2m more appointments in the first year alone. The Government has launched the UK’s first National Cancer Plan, invested in both current and new healthcare workers, launched a new deal for GPs to transform primary care, and returned direct accountability for NHS services to central government.

Locally, the new diagnostic centre at Crawley Hospital has undertaken over 100,000 tests and investment in three clinical research facilities in West Sussex hospitals will support improvements in local medical treatment.

Despite the Government’s efforts, the decision of Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust to make permanent the temporary overnight closure of Crawley Urgent Treatment Centre is a backwards step. 24-hour provision at Crawley UTC was a commitment made when loss of Royal College accreditation forced the closure of Crawley’s A&E, it amounts to a breach of promise by the trust using a questionable review process.

Crawley Borough Council has expressed their opposition to the changes, as have residents through an online petition. Unfortunately, the only local oversight of the process is Conservative-controlled West Sussex County Council, whose Health and Adult Social Care committee signed-off on the proposals in just 45 minutes, the objections of Crawley councillors.

Since the announcement, I’ve submitted a Common’s Early Day Motion opposing the change and, following a second Health Question on the issue, secured a meeting with the Department of Health to discuss the future of services at the hospital, something which surely requires an expansion of services, rather than a loss of current provision.

At a time when we are seeing national investment and improvements in NHS services, we shouldn’t be suffering a reduction in UTC hours, and I will fight this decision with every tool at my disposal.

To sign the petition opposing the closure of the A&E, please go to: Petition · Prevent permanent overnight closure of Crawley Hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre – Crawley, United Kingdom · Change.org