Crawley Hospital is losing more services for critically-ill patients.

Four intensive care beds have closed and seriously ill patients are being sent ten miles away to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.

From tomorrow night patients needing emergency surgery, such as an operation for appendicitis, will go to East Surrey.

From Monday, all patients needing major complex surgery, such as extensive abdominal operations, will also go to Redhill.

The changes follow the decision to close the hospital's accident and emergency (A&E) unit and replace it with a minor injuries walk-in centre, which will be open 24 hours at the end of August.

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs both hospitals, says having services on the Redhill site, instead of divided over two, will mean better patient care.

The A&E changes have been criticised by paramedics at Sussex Ambulance Service who are worried lives could be at risk with the longer journeys.

Campaigners unsuccessfully fought for a new hospital in Crawley to replace the old building which has no room to expand.

A new critical care unit with ten beds has opened at East Surrey Hospital which will support patients who have undergone serious surgery.

Lorraine Knight, the trust's general manager for critical care, said: "The redesign of critical care aims to enhance the quality of care patients receive.

"The changes will not reduce the number of critical care beds across the trust.

"In fact, the intention is to expand the department by creating six new high-dependency beds."

Trust chief executive Ken Cunningham said: "The changes are the latest phase in a £30 million investment programme which aims to ensure we continue to provide the best quality of care for patients."

The trust was given no stars in the latest hospital star ratings, which branded it as failing.

Staff are worried moving all emergency patients to Redhill will add to the pressure.