Demonstrators protested about planned cuts to workers at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Led by the GMB Union, the protest yesterday challenged cuts to the salaries of workers at the bottom end of the pay scale, such as nurses and healthcare assistants (HCAs).

About 50 people turned up and spoke out against the proposed cuts.

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Gary Palmer, GMB regional organiser, said: “Despite the poor weather we had a good, vocal and respectful turnout.

“This is day one of an ongoing fight against cuts and we are calling on the trust to stop this widening pay gap and address the pay inequality.”

The GMB argues the void between the lowest salary of £14,298 and the highest of £97,453 is too vast.

Mr Palmer said: “The trust justifies large salaries by saying they want the best. But we should expect the same for nurses and HCAs.”

Sherree Fagge, chief nurse for Brighton and Sussex University Hospital, said: “Along with every other NHS provider in the country we are having to examine and reexamine how we spend our money.

“Before we made these changes our bank rates were higher than most other hospitals in England and were, in many circumstances, unfair compared with rates of pay for our substantive (permanent) nurses.

“We have been working closely with Unison to agree new bank rates that are fairer to everyone, and we have already begun to offer up to 100 bank staff permanent jobs in the NHS.”