MORE THAN 600 protesters took the Save Crawley Hospital campaign to the streets.

Hundreds of shoppers cheered and clapped as the placard-carrying procession arrived at a packed Queens Square from West Green Park, passing the hospital on its way.

At its head, being pushed in a bed, was cataract patient Douglas Scott-Smith, 77, from Malthouse Road, Southgate, Crawley.

Mr Scott-Smith said: "It was fantastic reception. I think we can win the fight."

The campaigners want health bosses to drop plans to downgrade the hospital and transfer major services such as casualty and maternity to East Surrey Hospital Hospital at Redhill.

Instead they want urgent financial and political help to speed up the building of a new hospital in Crawley and improve its current services while that is done.

Pushing Mr Scott-Smith was WRVS worker at the hospital Joyce Lydbrook, 63, from Bewbush, Crawley, who said: "I hope the campaign succeeds. It's a very busy hospital. There are so many admissions going in there the whole time."

Police who walked with the protesters to monitor the march praised its organisation.

Acting sergeant Wendy Pattenden, of Crawley Police, said: "There was absolutely no trouble. It was all very good natured. In fact the officers who policed it actually enjoyed it."

Ex-Servicemen wearing their medals joined the parade.

Among them was Royal Naval Association member Roy Ticehurst, 75, from Crawley, who said: "Once the health people get an idea in their heads it goes through. But let's hope this changes their mind. The reception was out of this world. We came along just to lend our support."

The good-natured spirit of the event evaporated during the rally speeches when campaigners turned their fire on bosses at Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust, who say the

changes are needed to safeguard the future of the the hospital.

Crawley Council member Chris Mullins was loudly cheered when he said: "We are not going to be pushed around by these middle-class bureaucrats sleeping in their soft beds.

"It is not about the people, it is about the careers of these bureaucrats."

Last week, a report by accountants Deloitte and Touche said the proposals appeared not to have given much consideration to the population and the question of access to

quality services.

The trust says all

comments will be considered before any decision.

A Sounds of Support concert is being staged at The Hawth Theatre, Crawley, on September 29 in aid of the campaign.

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