The factor most significantly affecting patient mortality is being received into an emergency room which has full surgical, neurological and orthopaedic disciplines at its disposal, in addition to coronary care, LTU and full radiological back-up and support.

Training and placement of the next generation of senior practitioners is dependent on the receiving hospitals receiving the type of surgical cases in sufficient volume to merit their expertise and continued residence.

Princess Royal Hospital's current A&E department has seen a significant increase in the number of cases that have passed through its doors.

This will not decrease. The hospital has an ideal geographical location with a 360-degree catchment area. It also has a first-class neurological, radiological and surgical unit and the staff expertise to be developed into one of the finest hospitals in the country.

The A&E department should be further developed and supported by a fully functional and easily accessible helicopter landing site. The present landing site at the hospital is completely inappropriately placed.

If the A&E were closed, ambulances would be committed to longer journey times, thus compromising their availability.

If downgrading the PRH went ahead, ambulance resources in the area would have to be increased significantly.

The only reasons for downgrading or closing the A&E department are political excuses.

Let's direct financial aid to the health service to support and maintain it, not to downgrade it at the cost to the local community.

I ask all readers to fight to maintain full A&E facilities at the PRH and not to accept anything less. This is your hospital - don't lose it.

-Trevor Whiteside, Thornhill Rise, Portslade