The consultant managing the threatened casualty unit at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath is quitting.

Head of the accident and emergency unit Derek Harborne, 42, says lack of support and uncertainty over its future played a large part in his decision.

Top of his list of complaints is what he sees as inaction over requests to employ a second consultant to help run the department.

And he is calling for the hospital to replace him with two people to ease pressure on staff when he leaves for the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, Lancashire.

A review panel called the Central Sussex Partnership Programme is likely to announce in the New Year whether or not it intends to pursue its favoured option of no longer sending seriously injured or ill patients to the Princess Royal.

They would instead go to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. There has been fierce opposition to the idea.

Mr Harborne said: "My main reason is because I am a single-handed consultant, one of the last in the UK. I have asked for the appointment of a second consultant for years and nothing has happened so far.

"It's a combination of being single handed and the uncertainty."

Mr Harborne, who leads a team of seven doctors and about 30 nursing staff, says experts recommend three consultants for a unit such as the Princess Royal's.

He opposes downgrading the casualty unit but says there may be scope for the two hospitals to co-operate on some work.

Central Sussex Partnership Programme director June Dales said: "We are sorry to lose such a valued member of staff.

"We believe better services can be provided by collaboration between PRH and Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust than if they continue to work independently, "This is a good example of how clinical integration will work - we have the opportunity to improve on a single-handed A&E consultant"