Campaigners fighting to save hospital services in Sussex have taken their battle to Westminster to forge alliances with protesters from across the country.

About 70 people from Worthing, Chichester, Haywards Heath, Eastbourne and Hastings took part in a lobby of Parliament attended by representatives of more than a dozen communities whose hospitals are threatened with closure or downgrading.

But Government officials snubbed invitations to attend the meeting and explain why departments could be lost.

Instead a delegation got to meet Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to put their concerns directly to the Government.

The lobby, organised by the All-Party Parliamentary Local Hospitals Group, called for hospital services, particularly accident and emergency cover, to be kept open locally.

Hospitals across Sussex are at risk of losing vital facilities such as maternity and A&E as part of a major shake-up which could lead to more services being provided in the community and patients travelling up to 20 miles for urgent treatment.

Campaigners warn lives will be lost and say the changes are a consequence of NHS trusts' multi-millionpound deficits.

A consultation on the detailed proposals, which have not yet been revealed, will be held this year.

More than 360,000 people across Sussex have signed petitions against possible cuts and taken part in demonstrations, meetings and vigils.

Protesters said yesterday's meeting signalled the transformation of a fragmented campaign into a national movement.

Liz Walke, campaign organiser from Eastbourne's Save the DGH campaign, said: "I am confident this will be a turning point.

"It is the first time we have met campaign groups from across the country and now we have a network we will keep the momentum going."

Dr Marjorie Greig, a consultant at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, told the crowd there was a danger cardiac patients would have to "run the gauntlet" of the A27 rather than being treated near their homes.

Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley said: "The public and GPs need to assess what services we need rather than what we can afford."

Health minister Andy Burnham later told MPs that saving lives was more important than saving buildings and that community hospitals had "a bright future".

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