Health chiefs have decided to close a staff social club at Worthing Hospital and

convert it into a creche despite a flood of opposition.

The decision to close the Worthing and Southlands Hospital social club has been taken after attempts to find another site for the creche failed.

But critics say the closure will lead to a drop in fund-raising as the club is hired out for weddings and other special events.

Hospital bosses have been looking for an alternative site for the creche, which cares for 30 children, as temporary planning permission for the current building ends in the autumn.

With more than 40 children on the waiting list for the creche, it needs more space and the social club site would allow expansion.

A hospital worker, who asked not to be named, said: "It's out-rageous. A lot of staff are very angry about this. The club brings in a lot of revenue for the hospital with weddings and other events.

"The decision seemed to have been made right from the start. It's a place where staff can gather to relax and let off steam and get to know each other.

"But it is also a prime venue for fund raising. The decision to close it is such a bad one."

Around 200 staff use the social club and health bosses say they are now looking at introducing other staff benefits to compensate for the loss.

Trust personnel director Roger Turner said: "We are sorry staff will lose this benefit but, on balance, loss of the creche would be far more damaging to staff than closure of the social club."