Nearest Hospital
Hospital services serving Littlehampton residents
Littlehampton does not have its own hospital, and residents requiring hospital services are served by the hospitals in the surrounding area. The nearest hospitals with accident and emergency departments are Worthing Hospital, approximately seven miles to the east, and St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, approximately twelve miles to the west. Both hospitals are part of the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and provide the full range of acute hospital services.
Worthing Hospital is the closer of the two and is the default destination for most emergencies originating in Littlehampton. The hospital has an accident and emergency department, operating theatres, intensive care, maternity services, paediatrics and a full range of diagnostic and treatment facilities. Ambulances responding to emergencies in Littlehampton will normally transport patients to Worthing unless the nature of the emergency requires a specialist facility available only at a more distant hospital.
St Richard's Hospital in Chichester provides similar services and is the alternative for patients in the western part of the Littlehampton area or when Worthing is experiencing high demand. The hospital also hosts specialist services that may not be available at Worthing, and patients may be referred to Chichester for particular conditions or procedures. The choice of hospital is determined by the clinical need, the availability of services and, for planned appointments, the patient's preference.
For non-emergency hospital services, including outpatient appointments, diagnostic tests and planned surgery, Littlehampton residents are referred through their GP to the appropriate hospital department. The NHS choice framework allows patients to choose which hospital they attend for many planned procedures, and some patients opt for hospitals further afield if they offer shorter waiting times or particular expertise. The waiting time for hospital appointments and procedures varies by speciality and urgency, and the pressures on the NHS mean that waits can be lengthy for non-urgent conditions.
The journey to Worthing Hospital from Littlehampton takes approximately twenty minutes by car in normal traffic conditions, though this can extend significantly during peak hours and in summer when the coastal roads are busy. The journey to St Richard's in Chichester takes approximately twenty-five to thirty minutes. Neither hospital is conveniently reached by public transport from Littlehampton, with journeys involving one or more bus or rail changes, and patients attending hospital appointments frequently drive or arrange lifts.
Minor injuries and urgent but non-life-threatening conditions can sometimes be treated at urgent treatment centres or minor injuries units closer to home, reducing the need for a full A&E visit. The NHS 111 service provides advice on the most appropriate service for a given condition, directing patients to A&E only when the severity warrants it. For many conditions, the GP surgery, the pharmacy or a telephone consultation will be the most appropriate first response.
Patient transport services are available for those who qualify, providing non-emergency transport to hospital appointments for patients who cannot travel by other means. Eligibility is assessed based on medical need, and the service is arranged through the hospital or the GP. For patients requiring regular hospital visits, such as those receiving dialysis, chemotherapy or other ongoing treatments, the patient transport service provides an essential lifeline that ensures access to treatment regardless of transport circumstances.