A 50-point action plan has been unveiled in a bid to shake-up a maternity unit hit by low morale.

The package was unveiled after midwives at Worthing Hospital warned of a crisis in their department which could affect services.

They said an external review of the maternity service had been undertaken yet staff were being left in the dark after hospital managers promised to meet them last November.

But the Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust said the meeting had taken place and staff had been overwhelmingly supportive of the review's recommendations.

In a letter to The Argus, the midwives said: "The maternity unit has been criticised for closing when short of beds and we have now been told we are to lose eight beds to a day surgery unit to help the waiting list.

"This can only increase the number of bed closures in maternity.

"It also means we will be unable to provide the new facilities for women such as the midwifery-led unit, breast feeding room, overnight facilities for fathers, new foetal day assessment and early pregnancy units for which we received Government money.

"Staff are being kept completely in the dark about the department.

"Trust directors promised to meet staff to discuss the review at the end of November but this failed to happen.

"We feel our service is at risk of being undermined. This can only mean a poor service for women."

A trust spokesman said: "Maternity staff have been overwhelmingly supportive of the recommendations that came out of an external review.

"We are disappointed a small minority have chosen to criticise our efforts to provide improvements.

"A pilot scheme has begun using Burford Ward as a day surgical unit to help avoid cancelling operations.

"Burford Ward is adjacent to Bramber, the main maternity ward. Contingency plans are in place should this area be required for the maternity service which will always take priority.

"The meeting which was promised to staff has taken place. The clinical staff were kept informed as to the progress of the review group."