Proposals to downgrade a hospital's casualty department were condemned last night.

Lindfield parish councillors branded plans to downgrade services at Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, and transfer services to Brighton as 'madness'.

Health chiefs want to change the accident and emergency department at the Princess Royal to an emergency treatment centre.

The move would mean that many casualties, such as road crash victims, would be taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton instead.

The aim is to have all trauma incidents and emergency surgery, such as appendicitis, treated at Brighton while other medical emergencies including asthma, heart attacks or strokes would be dealt with at Haywards Heath.

Health chiefs say the move is necessary if it is to keep up with rapid developments in specialist care.

Lindfield parish clerk Sue Kolien said councillors last night were very unhappy with the proposals.

She said: "The main concerns were the difficulties with access both for emergency patients travelling to Brighton from the area and for those wanting to visit friends and relatives.

"Members also suggested it would be more sensible to upgrade services at PRH instead of at Brighton because access is so much easier in this area. It just does not make any sense."

The council's response will now be sent to the Mid Sussex NHS Trust as public consultation continues.

Hundreds of people have already backed an Argus campaign demanding that casualty services stay as they are.

The recent loss of A&E services at Crawley Hospital has also heightened worries as if the Princess Royal scheme goes ahead, there will be no major casualty service on offer between Redhill and Brighton.