Hospitals across Sussex could opt out of overall Government control in the next few years.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has signalled his support for proposals to give all hospitals controversial foundation status within five years.

At Commons question time he told MPs: "Provided the hospitals meet the criteria, we want as many as possible.

"It is right we have the freedom for those hospitals so they can provide a good service for National Health Service patients."

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Trust in East Grinstead is one of 32 in England to have already put in a bid for foundation status.

Applications are only open to trusts which got the maximum three stars in the Government's performance ratings.

At the moment, Queen Victoria is the only Sussex trust with three stars.

The former Brighton Health Care NHS Trust has two while all the others in the county have one.

Foundation status would give the Queen Victoria more financial freedom, with managers able to borrow from banks.

Proceeds from land sales, meanwhile, would be able to be kept for reinvestment in local services instead of going to a central pot.