Hospital bosses have appointed a team of experts to look at the possible merger of hospital services in East Sussex.

Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, are pressing ahead with discussions about a possible merger as a way of improving services to patients.

The collaboration would be in line with a report from the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians and the British Medical Association, which recommended links be set up to serve populations of 400,000 or more.

Bosses said the plans were not certain and a decision would depend on the recommendation of the new project team.

Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust chief executive Alan Randall said: "We are looking at whether we can collaborate more closely with Hastings and that will be the responsibility of the team.

"They will look at every aspect, including the financial side of things. It could not go ahead at all."

DGH pharmacy chief Michael Wilson will head the project to investigate the proposals.

He begins a six-month appointment on Monday and will report his team's findings to both trust boards by February 2001.

If a merger is recommended it is likely to come into effect by April 2002.

Mr Randall admitted a minority of patients might have to travel farther for services in the future, but plans would include bringing specialists to patients in certain cases.

Mr Randall said: "Both trust boards are totally committed to building up and improving the level of care. This is a chance for both trusts to become stronger."