We've won. The Argus helped outraged people in Mid Sussex campaign against the downgrading of the accident and emergency department at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

More than 50,000 people signed a petition against the move which would have sent many people to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Now health chiefs have decided to keep the department fully functioning and to provide more investment for it.

There are still some unanswered questions over long-term hospital plans but the future of the department is assured for at least the next three to five years.

This is great news for the campaigners. It proves democratic protest can be effective even within the NHS and that health officials have been listening.

It was always awkward, and in some cases dangerous, for people in Mid Sussex to travel all the way to Brighton, a journey which can take up an hour.

Mid Sussex has a large and growing population. There are more than enough people to support a fully-fledged hospital accident and emergency department.

Meanwhile, anyone who has attended the Royal Sussex knows that often waits in the department there can take hours now without more emergencies.

Now the campaigners will have to make sure the department does a good job in the next few years so that there is a compelling case to keep it there permanently.