MPs join hospital plans meeting

The Princess Royal is one of several hospitals under threat

Several hundred people have attended a meeting held to discuss hospital changes in West Sussex.

Campaigners fear the Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Haywards Heath could be downgraded, potentially losing its accident and emergency services.

Local MPs Nick Herbert and Nicholas Soames spoke at Wednesday night's meeting at Clair Hall, Haywards Heath.

NHS bodies in West Sussex are set to begin a public consultation into a revamp of healthcare provision.

Strong feelings

The MPs claim their proposals will include some "drastic options" for the people of Haywards Heath and its surrounding areas.

Mr Soames, MP for Mid Sussex, and Mr Herbert, the Arundel and South Downs MP, launched the Support the Princess Royal Hospital campaign, and have gathered more than 10,300 signatures on a petition.

"NHS managers and the Secretary of State for Health must be under no illusion as to the strength of local feeling and support for the PRH, and the anger which people feel ahead of these proposals," said Mr Soames.

A protest rally is now being planned for 14 October.

Wednesday's meeting was led by the chair designate of the new West Sussex Primary Care Trust, with interested people able to put their concerns to representatives from various local NHS organisations.

Any changes at the PRH would only be confirmed next spring, once definite proposals have been made and a full public consultation carried out.