Decision looms on hospital

Crawley Hospital is likely to carry on unchanged

Campaigners who have fought for years for a new state-of-the-art hospital in Sussex could face disappointment.

Sussex and Surrey Health Authority is expected to announce at a meeting on Wednesday night that it will develop the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill instead.

That decision would be a bitter blow to campaigners for a new hospital at Pease Pottage, near Crawley, in Sussex.

People in the Crawley area have pushed for years for a new hospital - and a year ago a review of health services recommended looking into this option.

Community services

But the Primary Care Trusts argue there is no need for a hospital there - and the money could be better spent elsewhere.

The health authority is expected to decide at Wednesday night's meeting to develop the East Surrey hospital.

This could mean more investment in community and GP services at Redhill.

Crawley Hospital is likely to continue operating in the same form as it does now.