There are 16,000 reasons for health chiefs to think again about sending seriously ill and injured people from Haywards Heath to Brighton.

That's how many people have signed the Argus petition to save the accident and emergency department at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and there are more to come.

NHS managers must now accept the huge concern their plans have caused in large parts of Mid Sussex and in Brighton.

Everyone accepts there are some emergencies that can only be treated in regional centres that offer specialist treatment.

But Mid Sussex is a heavily populated and growing area which needs a general hospital offering a good emergency service.

What has worried so many people is the prospect of someone who has been seriously injured taking another 40 minutes or more to reach the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton when treatment could have been offered at the Princess Royal.

It could lead at worst to loss of life. At best it means people being treated at a hospital many miles from their homes.

Health bosses have said they will listen to people's views. They must not ignore this petition which says their plans are plain daft and could be dangerous.