THE merger of Royal West Sussex and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals' NHS Trusts was confirmed on Monday, securing the future of both A&E and consultant-led maternity services at

St Richard's Hospital in Chichester.

At two separate meetings, both trusts unanimously agreed that a "single, strong centrally managed NHS Trust will offer the most appropriate way to secure sustainable healthcare for the people of West Sussex".

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.