Residents opposed to plans to downgrade services at the Princess Royal Hospital, in Haywards Heath, are holding a meeting.

The most controversial suggestion is to send some patients needing urgent surgery to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton.

Some East Grinstead residents say they would be affected even more than people in Haywards Heath.

They are now holding a public meeting to tell NHS managers their concerns at Meridian Hall, East Court, tomorrow from 7.30pm.

A panel of NHS bosses will answer questions on the changes.

East Grinstead residents already face the prospect of having to travel to Pembury Hospital, in Kent, instead of Tunbridge Wells due to proposed changes in that area.

Alan Lord, of Elizabeth Avenue, East Grinstead, is a member of the town's Health Care Group.

He said: "We are really caught in the middle and to be honest we should have done something a little earlier.

"But one or two people were put off by other meetings that had been held."

A public meeting at Haywards Heath, attended by about 500 people, became so heated a plea for calm had to be made.

More than 17,000 people signed the Argus' Save Our A&E petition and another 37,000 signed a petition organised by the Princess Royal Action Group.

The petitions were presented to NHS bosses by Dame Vera Lynn, from Ditchling.

NHS managers are considering the petitions and comments before deciding on which changes will become formal proposals.

They say the ideas are so far just suggestions for public discussion.