A new Mayor has vowed to save her local hospital after being rushed there eight times in the back of an ambulance.

Coun Heather Mercer, the 91st Mayor of Worthing, later underwent three operations, totalling 22-and-a-half hours of surgery, on her heart and leg.

She said: "I might not be alive, and therefore not be Mayor, if it wasn't for Worthing's accident and emergency department."

Experts discovered that the chronic chest pains were due to an irregular heartbeat, and her condition was made worse by complications involving the major artery in her leg.

Coun Mercer, who is trained as a specialist cancer nurse and health visitor, vowed to do all in her power to stop cuts at Worthing Hospital and Southlands Hospital, Shoreham.

Campaigners fear the Government will close Worthing's casualty department, with seriously-ill patients being transferred to A and E in Brighton or Portsmouth.

But protesters argue that lives will be lost as ambulances are slowed by, or get stuck in, rush-hour traffic on the congested A27.

Coun Mercer said: "I had eight emergency admissions to hospital. I was blue-lighted in.

"I therefore think there is a huge difference between theoretical health policy and that policy being implemented. What seems OK on paper and in Westminster is very different in real life terms.

"They may say it is just eight miles to the nearest A and E but it could take two hours to get there.

"I think we need to start challenging politicians to come down and see what it means."

She was operated on at St George's Hospital, London, and has now made a full recovery.

Coun Mercer, who was elected to serve Salvington ward on Worthing Borough Council in 2004, took over from coun Tom Wye, who spearheaded the Keep Worthing and Southlands Hospitals (KWASH) campaign during his year in office.

Coun Wye said: "I must say a heartfelt thank you to all those who have been involved with the campaign. We have a long battle before us but united we will win. The residents of Worthing deserve nothing less. I must record my most sincere appreciation of the media coverage that the campaign has enjoyed."

His "fantastic" contribution was praised by coun Paul Yallop, who said words could never express the town's gratitude to his commitment to the KWASH cause.

During his Mayoral year he had attended 601 engagements, including a dozen 100th birthdays, covering 6,000 miles.

Coun Wye had also raised £15,072 for his chosen charities, Worthing Alzheimer's Society, West Tarring Boys' Club and Worthing Victim Support.

The ceremony was attended by coun Mercer's 95-year-old mother Gladys Amey, Worthing MPs' Peter Bottomley and Tim Loughton, and honorary Aldermen.

The Mayor's consort will be her husband, Keith, who is leader of the borough council. They have four children, Kevin, David, Matthew and Benjamin.

The town's new youth mayor is 16-year-old Worthing High School pupil Peter Fullilove.

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