East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant

At ESHT, we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC). We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community makes and the impact on their ability to access healthcare. We also recognise the impact on employment and are supportive employers of reservists and Armed Forces family members to increase and sustain employment and health for all those in our Armed Forces.

We are currently bronze accredited under the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA). This is a group of NHS ‘Veteran Aware’ provider organisations in England committed to providing the best standards of care for the Armed Forces community based on the principles in the Armed Forces Covenant. We are in the process of achieving the Silver accreditation.

We, East Sussex Healthcare NHS, will endeavour to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant. Members of the Armed Forces Community should not face disadvantage arising from their service in the provision of public and commercial services.

About us

At East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (also known as ‘ESHT’) we provide safe, compassionate, and high-quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex or visiting our local area. We are a major local employer, with a diverse workforce of around 8,000 staff providing healthcare services to a growing population of some 525,000 people.

Services are provided across two District General Hospital Sites- Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne both of which have Emergency Departments, Urgent Treatment Centres and provide care 24 hours a day. They offer a comprehensive range of surgical, medical and maternity services supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.

As an Integrated Trust we also have a number of Community Based Resources and services that look after our patients when they are in their own homes and receiving care from Health and Social Care.

Resources in the Community include:

• Bexhill Hospital we provide outpatients, ophthalmology, rehabilitation and intermediate care services.
• Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital we provide outpatient and inpatient intermediate care services.
• Firwood House we jointly provide, with Adult Social Care, inpatient intermediate care services.
• We also provide some services at Uckfield Community Hospital and Lewes Victoria Hospital.
• Our community staff provide care in the patient’s own home and from a number of clinics and GP surgeries.