Planned changes to hospital services in West Sussex will leave patients and relatives facing longer and more difficult journeys, opponents say.

The claim comes as thousands of people are asked to give their views on plans to transfer all in-patient services from Southlands Hospital in Shoreham to Worthing Hospital.

Worthing and Southlands NHS Trust, which owns both hospitals, says the move is vital to maintain good standards of care and attract doctors.

The proposals have angered people living in surrounding towns and villages who say it is easier to get to Shoreham by public transport than Worthing.

West Sussex county councillor Derek Deedman, who represents Steyning, has criticised claims, published in an official consultation document, that Worthing Hospital is well-served by public transport.

He said: "Apart from a once-per-day shopping service, there is no direct bus service past Worthing Hospital from the Steyning area.

"If the hospital services are transferred, patients and visitors would have a combination of bus changes and a long walk to get to and from the hospital.

"The trust, West Sussex Health Authority and the county council need to work together to ensure the provision of a regular bus service to and from the Steyning area as part of the proposals.

"This would help people without cars, who would find it most difficult to attend or visit Worthing, to be able to do so."

The services transferred would include orthopaedics and elderly care.

It would mean up to 4,000 extra people a year from the Adur, Arun, Worthing and Chanctonbury areas would go to Worthing instead of Shoreham.

There are fears from some patients that the trust will eventually pull out of Southlands, where the buildings are in a poor condition, and sell the site for housing.