MP Nicholas Soames has cast doubts about the merger of two health trusts.

He said the Princess Royal Hospital, managed by Mid Sussex NHS Trust, is heading for a deficit of £3.3 million and Brighton Health Care NHS Trust also faces big financial problems.

It's the proposal to merge the trusts which is causing unpopular moves such as the one planned for the Nigel Porter breast cancer unit from Brighton to Haywards Heath.

Earlier this year, there was also a plan to close the accident and emergency unit at the Princess Royal, leading to many cases being treated in Brighton.

Mr Soames says the merger should be placed on hold until the financial problems have been sorted out.

This masks the deeper question of whether there should be any merger at all between two health districts which have little in common.