Health chiefs say many casualty patients should be treated at Brighton instead of at Haywards Heath.

Major changes are proposed for the Princess Royal Hospital, where the accident and emergency unit could be downgraded to an emergency treatment centre.

There are three options on the table - no change; closing the A and E unit at the Princess Royal so all casualty patients go to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, and other hospitals including specialist units; and thirdly, admitting some A and E patients, such as heart attack and asthma victims, to the Princess Royal.

Others requiring emergency surgery, for example after a car crash, would go to the Royal Sussex and elsewhere.

The Central Sussex Review Board, which has been considering the future of health services in the area, favours the third option.

Members believe it would enable patients to be seen more quickly by specialists based at larger hospitals.

But board member June Dales was keen to stress a decision will only be taken after extensive public consultation.

The board will publish a discussion document on July 27 and hold a series of public meetings in the summer before making a decision in late September or early October.

Mrs Dales said: "We genuinely want to know what people think."

Mike Collinson, chief officer of Brighton, Hove and Lewes Community Health Council, said: "We would encourage people with views on proposed changes to express them.

"This is about ensuring the quality of patient services for the future."