Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust cancellations of intracranial surgical interventions at Buxted Medical Centre.

This is a matter for the National Health Service.

We are advised by the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA) that Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust provides neurosurgery services at the Hurstwood Park Centre at Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

The TDA advises cancellations of elective neurosurgery work may occur at the Trust, particularly when cases require Intensive Care Unit or High Dependency Unit support, as this capacity can at times be taken up with emergency work. The TDA further advises less frequently, emergency procedures themselves may necessitate the postponement of elective work. The TDA is not aware of any issues with cancellations over and above this.