More than 1,000 residents in Crawley have signed a petition calling for the local Urgent Treatment Centre to restore 24-hour service, following the decision to permanently limit opening hours to between 7:30am and 10pm. The campaign, which had gathered over 1,200 signatures by late February 2026, highlights growing community concern regarding access to overnight emergency medical care in the town.
The Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust made the reduced hours permanent in February 2026 after a pilot scheme that began in May 2024. The trust states that the change has improved patient care, noting that patients are being assessed and treated faster, with average time spent at the centre reduced by 18 minutes. They also reported no significant impact on nearby emergency departments.
However, petition organiser Aidan Zeall, 72, argues that the overnight closure risks lives and places additional pressure on the A&E department at East Surrey Hospital. He further pointed to the town’s expanding population, including planned developments of up to 10,000 homes in Ifield, as a reason to maintain around-the-clock services. The history of healthcare in the area remains a point of contention, as the town’s A&E department closed in August 2004, a move that was met with a 30,000-signature petition at the time.
Local leadership has joined the push to reconsider the decision. Crawley MP Peter Lamb has raised the issue in Parliament, citing past commitments for 24-hour care, and has secured a meeting with a government minister to discuss the matter. Additionally, Crawley Borough Council Leader Michael Jones has criticised the move, particularly highlighting an £8.6m investment for a new urgent care facility at East Surrey Hospital, which is expected to open in late 2027, while residents in Crawley see their own overnight services reduced.
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