People will have the chance to talk about plans to reduce a hospital's maternity services.

The maternity unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath could be downgraded and women with high-risk pregnancies sent elsewhere.

A decision will not be made for 18 months and doctors, managers and nursing staff are asking individuals and organisations for their views.

Experts from Mid Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust are using two discussion groups to talk about how services are provided now and listen to what people have to say. Similar meetings are planned for other parts of Mid Sussex in the next few months.

Lisa Compton, associate director of clinical governance and development at the PCT, said: "Involving the public in discussions about service provision is a high priority. This involvement should take place at all stages of the process rather than when a decision has already been made."

If the unit is downgraded, patients at high risk will be sent to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

If that unit is full they could be sent to Eastbourne, Worthing or Redhill.

The hospitals trust is also considering employing more nurses trained to care for newborn babies.

The panel prefers the idea of bringing in such nurse practitioners to downgrading the unit but it might be difficult to recruit enough because of national shortages and the high cost of living in Sussex.

Eight advanced nurse practitioners would be needed to support the maternity service at the Princess Royal and there are four there at the moment.

Thousands of people have already been sent questionnaires by the National Childbirth Trust, asking for their views.

The sessions will be at 1.30pm and 4.30pm at the Adastra Hall in Hassocks on Saturday.

To book a place and find out more, call Michele Brady on 01444 475749.