A council leader has pleaded with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to review “harmful” proposals to move cardiac surgery to another hospital.

Councillor Paul Barnett, leader of Hastings Borough Council, said the removal of cardiac surgery from The Conquest hospital in St Leonards to Eastbourne District Hospital would prove to be “very harmful” for patients.

In his letter to Steve Barclay MP, Cllr Barnett said that the loss of another service from the hospital made it feel as if it were being “downgraded”.

He said Hastings has the “worst health and highest deprivation in the south of England”.

His letter was co-signed by Councillor Julia Hilton, Green group leader for Hastings and Andy Patmore, group leader of the Conservatives for Hastings.

“For a town like Hastings, with the worst health and highest deprivation in the south of England, this will be very harmful,” wrote Cllr Barnett.

“1,500 residents a year will be forced to travel 20 miles (and public transport makes this a long and very difficult journey for early morning surgery appointments) and many will as a result not follow through on this critical treatment.

“This comes after other services have been moved, such as stroke services, and capital investment here is scheduled to be far below Eastbourne. It feels as if our hospital is being downgraded.

“The NHS team locally briefed me on their decision and told me that there is little difference between the two towns regarding health inequality.

“We find that hard to believe, when we have just agreed with the new Sussex NHS Trust, a focus on Hastings due to the long-term levels of health inequality here.

“There has been a call locally for a judicial review. However, I would much prefer for you to help us ask the new Trust to review and change this proposal.

“Hastings needs a first-class hospital or our resident’s health will continue to lag well behind where it should be.”

East Sussex Health Trust was approached for comment.