Health bosses have formally backed plans for a shake up of hospital services.

Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust (PCT) has approved a recommendation that will keep most accident and emergency services at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

The proposals will also retain A&E at Worthing Hospital and St Richard's Hospital in Chichester.

However there are still concerns over the future of maternity services as there are plans to have just one consultant-led maternity unit in West Sussex instead of the existing three.

The proposal was drawn up following the Fit for the Future public consultation run by the PCT in partnership with West Sussex PCT which wants to create one major general hospital in West Sussex.

Amanda Fadero, Brighton and Hove PCT's director of strategy, said: "Local people told us very clearly that they want to retain services at the Princess Royal, maintain planned care at Worthing and not overwhelm the Royal Sussex County Hospital in with more patients than it could reasonably cope with.

"Their views led us to the decision to recommend this model."

West Sussex PCT meets in Haywards Heath tomorrow where it is also expected to approve the same recommendation.

A decision on the location of the major hospital for West Sussex will be made next month.