Campaigners against the planned transfer of hospital services from Crawley to Surrey warned today: "Brighton and Haywards Heath could be next".

The Government yesterday announced accident and emergency and maternity services will be moved from Crawley Hospital to East Surrey Hospital, Redhill.

Despite being pressed to do so, bosses at the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, have said nothing to ease fears that the A&E unit there will close and patients treated at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

An announcement on the future of the Princess Royal Hospital is expected next month but Crawley Hospital campaigners say their experience augurs badly for people in Mid Sussex.

Simon Burgess, spokesman for the Crawley Hospital Campaign, said: "This decision is a betrayal of the people of Crawley. They are waiting on trolleys and they will die as a result of this.

"Brighton and Haywards Heath could be next."

Stefan Cantore, spokesman for the Princess Royal Hospital, was unavailable for comment but has previously refused to discuss details of what might be proposed.

Campaigners are considering a legal challenge to the Government's decision, even though it includes a £4.25 million revamp of the Crawley site. The decision means:

All emergency inpatient and complex surgery will be transferred from Crawley to Redhill.

A consultant-led urgent treatment centre, open round the clock, will be developed at Crawley to replace the existing A&E department.

Inpatient children's and maternity care will be moved to Redhill.

Outpatients, therapy and less complex surgery will stay, with the day surgery unit undergoing redevelopment.

New renal dialysis, stroke and foetal monitoring units being developed at Crawley.

A £600,000 investment in ambulance services.

Improved transport arrangements for patients, relatives, friends and staff from the two hospitals.

An expansion of community medical care.

Health Minister Gisela Stuart said a new working group would look at health services in the Crawley area for 2015 to 2020, including the possibility of a new hospital at Pease Pottage.

Trevor Richards, chief officer for Mid Downs Community Health Council, said: "The Pease Pottage option is something we should be pushing for as hard as possible."