Maternity and emergency services could be downgraded

Under proposals put forward by the Brighton and Sussex NHS Trust, services run by the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath could be downgraded.

Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames chaired the meeting, which was held on Wednesday evening at Clair Hall.

Members of the public were invited to voice any concerns they may have.

Specialist staff

The hospital's chairman and chief executive joined a panel which also included representatives from the Mid Sussex Primary Care Trust and Mid Sussex District Council.

In June, the trust said there was a shortage of specialist staff to look after babies in the hospital's special care baby unit and those who needed medical help when they were born.

It warned this could result in more serious cases being sent to a hospital in Brighton.

Earlier in the year, overspending by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust raised the issue of whether wards should be closed as a result.