THE controversial transfer of emergency and maternity services from Crawley Hospital has been approved despite strong opposition from residents.

West Sussex and East Surrey health authorities agreed to down-grade the hospital.

Members ruled that transferring some services to East Surrey

Hospital in Redhill was the best way to secure high-quality care for the future.

At the West Sussex Health Authority's meeting in Crawley, angry residents who have fought tooth and nail to save their

hospital accused board members of ignoring their needs and bulldozing proposals through.

They called on chairman Richard Irwin to resign.

Save Crawley Hospital Campaign treasurer Christine Earnell, who was rushed to the hospital's accident and emergency department the previous evening for resuscitation for a heart problem, said winter pressures had reduced it to "Third World" conditions.

She said patients were waiting on trolleys in corridors and staff were rushed off their feet, with one nurse breaking down in tears in front of her through stress.

She said: "If a fully operating accident and emergency department at Crawley Hospital cannot cope with such pressure how the hell does the trust expect all these services to be transferred to Redhill and keep patient safety a priority?"

West Sussex and East Surrey Health Authorities, and Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust put forward their proposals last September, subject to public consultation.

Residents and patients' watchdog Mid Downs Community Health Council have voiced concerns about public transport to Redhill, and ambulance cover over a broader area.

Campaigners have argued the answer is a new hospital for Crawley.

But yesterday the authorities agreed extra investigations into how changes will affect the community had quelled existing fears.

They have promised shuttle buses, community car schemes and increased advertising of existing transport links, and four extra 12-hour ambulance shifts each day.

Surrey and Sussex trust chief executive Isobel Gowan said questions about the future of the trust's hospital services made doctors and nurses reluctant to join.

Approval is needed from Health Secretary Alan Milburn.

If given the go-ahead, the trust will finalise cash for the plans and start putting changes in place.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.