Public support is still needed to help ensure a multi-million pound hospital redevelopment goes ahead.

Health bosses are still waiting on final approval from the Treasury to release funding for the £420m scheme at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Brighton Kemptown MP Simon Kirby says he is confident approval will be given but it is vital people help keep up the pressure.

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Almost 1,000 people have signed an online petition set up by Mr Kirby, calling for a decision to be made as soon as possible so construction work can begin.

Mr Kirby has been in regular contact with Chancellor George Osborne and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

He intends to hand over the petition within the next two weeks.

Mr Kirby said: “The financial arrangements for the delivery of the hospital and its services have been carefully drawn up and scrutinised and I am hopeful the plans will go ahead.

“Both the Chancellor and the Secretary of State have always been very receptive to the arguments I have made for the release of the funding, and I am sure that the Government will do the right thing.

“The Royal Sussex is extermely important to Brighton and the wider area and there is a clear need for redevelopment of hospital buildings which are unfit, or becoming unfit for purpose.

“The more who sign the petition, the greater the message will be that this is clearly something that people want and need and it is very important to them it goes ahead.”

The redevelopment, which will be carried out in three phases, will create hundreds of jobs during and after construction.

It will involve the demolition and replacement of the ageing Barry and Jubilee buildings, an expanded cancer centre and an underground car park.

The existing Thomas Kemp Tower will have a helicopter pad added which means critically ill patients will get the treatment they need more quickly.

There will also be a roof garden plus £550,000 of public transport improvements.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust has already begun preparing for the start of construction work, which includes transferring some office and administration services to the nearby St Mary's Hall building.

To sign the petition, visit www.simonkirby.org.