Dear Alan Johnson,

This is an open letter to inform you the people of Sussex have had enough.

They have seen hospital beds close, workers lose their jobs and watched as overworked staff struggle to provide the best service they can.

Hospital appointments are being deliberately delayed and some departments and wards are likely to be shut at night to save money.

The county's hospitals are facing a major restructure next year which could lead to vital departments such as accident and emergency and maternity being closed at some locations with patients having to travel up to 20 miles further for treatment.

This comes at a time when hospitals are busier than they have ever been before and are already finding it difficult to meet demand.

The problem is likely to get worse as thousands of new homes are planned for Sussex during the next decade and the countyıs elderly population needs a lot of care.

Senior consultants, hospital workers, patients and residents are all vigorously opposed to any changes which will lead to departments and wards being closed.

A local hospital should be able to provide the basic facilities such as accident and emergency, intensive care and maternity because otherwise lives will be put at risk.

The hospitals in Sussex are millions of pounds in debt and managers are being forced to make sweeping cutbacks to get themselves back on financial track.

At the moment it is the patients who are suffering the effects of these cuts and the workforce are tired, overstretched, demoralised and uncertain about their future.

We are calling for full services to be kept at EVERY hospital in Sussex because what happens at one hospital will inevitably have an impact on another.

The NHS needs to change the way it works in Sussex and sort out its finances. But the pace of change is too fast.

If this is allowed to continue, Sussex will be forced into making rushed decisions that may help meet a short-term financial need but will have major repercussions in the long-term.