Southlands Hospital in Shoreham could be turned into a rehabilitation centre for stroke and heart attack patients if new plans get the go-ahead.

Health chiefs have given their backing to a plan which would see the main hospital building developed into a rehabilitation centre and the remaining old buildings demolished with the sale of nearly three acres for development.

The group is recommending that all in-patient acute services, orthopedics, day surgery and medicine for the elderly be transferred to Worthing by 2002/3.

Services But all local out-patient services including therapy, x-ray services, offices, pharmacy and training for social workers will remain at Southlands in Shoreham.

New services are likely to be developed for the elderly mentally-ill, away from the Southlands site.

At present, facilities at the Ridings and Birchfield are below standard and will be upgraded in the short-term.

The review group, which consists of four local NHS Trusts, West Sussex and East Sussex Health Authorities, Worthing District Community Health Council and Adur Council, was set up to look at all the possible options for the hospital.

People living near Southlands, which does not have an accident and emergency department, feared it would be closed down completely.

The preferred option will now be considered by the boards of East and West Sussex Health Authorities, Brighton Health Care, South Downs Health Trust, Worthing Priority Care Trust, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals Trust and local primary care groups.

If approved, a public consultation exercise will be carried out at the end of the year to agree a change of use.