Consultations in East Sussex

Over the summer we consulted on our plans for sexual health services in East Sussex ready for the new contract in October 2022.

The aim was to make sure that the proposed service model would provide easy access to services that meet people’s needs. It was important to hear people’s views as the service model has changed significantly in the last few years due to digital innovation and COVID-19.

People were concerned that some groups of people may find it more difficult to access the service. 

In response to the consultation feedback, the service specification has been adapted to allow two drop-in triage clinics for all ages at each clinic site in Hastings and in Eastbourne. This is in recognition of people who are digitally excluded, do not have phones, or rely on limited phone credit or are genuinely unable to access their GP.

East Sussex County Council’s SEND team commissioned a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) of the local area to find out what was going well for children, young people and their families and what could be improved. The outcome of the review will help the team, working with partners, to develop a strategy for 2022-24 which puts in place improvements and build on the successes.

The report can be viewed on our JSNA website.

After reviewing the current position across education, health and social care provision and services, the JSNA made recommendations for improvements including prioritising prevention, early identification and intervention; improving processes and capacity of services with the longest waiting time for assessment and treatment; and improving access to, and increasing provision for mental health support. The report also highlighted areas where the ISEND service can build on successes including the continuing efforts to ensure the involvement of children, young people and their families in the development of provision and SEND training in schools.

As well as informing the SEND strategy, the outcome of the JSNA will help East Sussex County Council and partners set joint commissioning priorities, ensuring the appropriate support is in place for children and young people across East Sussex.

We asked if the LCWIP networks connected the right places in the County, alongside asking you about your cycling or walking activity and whether there were any barriers.

You raised several general issues; these are summarised as follows:

• Strategy – not in alignment with recent DfT guidance, needs greater consideration of disabled people’s needs, links should be made to local plan development sites, the plan should be linked to adjoining authority LCWIP’s.
• Infrastructure & scheme delivery - shared cycling and walking schemes are generally not supported, road space should not be allocated to active travel due to the risk of causing increased congestion, would like to see more traffic calming and 20mph speed limits, consideration should be given to equestrian users.
• Safety & training – greater regulation of cyclists, greater training for drivers in relation to consideration of cyclists, more cycle training for people of all ages.
• Document specifics – maps difficult to read and document too long.

You raised concerns in relation to specific geographic locations.

• A259 Newhaven – Rottingdean - concerns about the re-allocation of road space to cycling and walking infrastructure on this corridor.
• Croft Road, Crowborough – concerns raised about the options for pedestrianisation and impact on potential bus routing/bus stop access, deliveries, and traffic flow displacement.
• Broad Street, Seaford – concerns raised about potential pedestrianisation and impact on access for deliveries to shops and businesses

A summary of the updates to the final LCWIP are: -

• Greater emphasis on walking 
• Greater links to Local Plans 
• Links with Neighbourhood Plans (NP’s) 
• Commitment to investigate inclusion of schemes that meet with new government strategies and guidance (Gear Change Strategy & LTN 1/20)
• More emphasis on electric cycles, e-cargo bikes, and cycle parking (especially for electric cycles) 
• Greater consideration to people with physical and hidden disabilities 
• Links with leisure and tourism and open space 
• Inclusion of maintenance for footways/cycleways
• Additonal information on funding the LCWIP