Hospital campaigners have claimed pregnant women in Crawley are getting a second-class service.

They say they are being denied access to antenatal tests for Down's syndrome which are available to women in Haywards Heath, Horsham and East Surrey.

The campaigners - who have lost their fight to prevent major services being moved from Crawley Hospital to East Surrey Hospital, Redhill - say local women are suffering because West Sussex Health Authority refuses to pay for the test.

Instead they are being referred to London hospitals for the special screening.

Chris Bird, Crawley Hospital Campaign chairman, said research suggested the test - called Nuchal Translucency Screening (NTS) - could detect a risk of Down's earlier and was more reliable than the cheaper triple test which is currently used.

Triple screening, which involves a simple scan and three blood tests, takes place at 15 to 16 weeks of pregnancy. NTS, which gives a more detailed ultrasound scan, is used at 11 to 13 weeks.

If Down's syndrome was indicated, mothers could choose to have an amniocentesis test to confirm whether the condition was present.

The campaigners say Horsham GPs have agreed to pay for NTS for their patients and it is also available for women in East Surrey and Haywards Heath.

Mr Bird said: "This leaves Crawley women the only local population not to benefit from the improved test. They are getting a second-class service.

"This blatant discrepancy must stop. Women should ask their GPs, midwives and hospitals for the improved test."

Margaret Farrell of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust said Crawley Hospital had always used the triple test.

She said: "The NTS screening has never been available at Crawley Hospital. However, it can be arranged for expectant mothers in Crawley through their GP or via a hospital antenatal clinic.

"Women who have the triple test do not have as long to wait to have Down's syndrome confirmed."

The trust's head of midwifery Eileen Nolan said there was no evidence to show NTS was more effective.

She said: "We do appreciate many mums like to have an early scan and there are other benefits such as early detection of twins. We would like all women booked with us to have access to this new screening."

Linda Benny, of West Sussex Health Authority, said it was waiting for national guidance.

She said: "The authority's decision regarding the availability of the NTS will be based on its clinical effectiveness."