The Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, could go the same way as Crawley Hospital by losing vital services, a top doctor warned today.

Dr David Read, consultant in intensive care at the Princess Royal, spoke out against proposals to downgrade the accident and emergency department to an urgent treatment centre.

Under the controversial proposals some patients, including crash victims, would be treated in Redhill or Brighton instead of Haywards Heath.

Dr Read said health chiefs should spend more money on accident and emergency at the Princess Royal rather than cut vital services for the people of Mid Sussex.

"Ten years ago, Crawley was a fully functional hospital but it has died bit by bit. I don't want the same here.

"It seems to me that everybody wants to solve all the problems by closing things. We've seen the banks closing village branches and the post offices are under threat - all these facilities you need.

"To my mind, the solution should be to keep them open, providing a modern standard of service. Our A&E is a very busy unit.

"This hospital is very strongly supported by the medical staff. We all see a future here and we all want to see this site continue its history of improvement."

MP Howard Flight said he was worried about the future of hospitals such as the Princess Royal and Southlands, Shoreham, after the Government approved plans to transfer A&E from Crawley to Redhill.

Mr Flight, the Conservative MP for Arundel and South Downs, said: "These proposals will only add to the fear that many people feel about the availability of services when they are needed.

"The transfer of A&E services to Redhill is of particular concern in a mainly rural area and such services should be close to the people they are supposed to be serving."

A formal discussion process will start on July 27.

Meanwhile our campaign to save the A&E continues to gather support.

*What do you think? Please write to Save Our A&E, Evening Argus, 5 Church Road, Burgess Hill RH15 9BB.