A two-year battle to keep accident and emergency services at all three hospitals in West Sussex has ended in partial victory for campaigners.

West Sussex primary care trust board backed retaining most A&E services at both St Richard's Hospital in Chichester and Worthing Hospital, and leaving services at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath unchanged.

Emergency surgery will be concentrated at Chichester or Worthing and consultant-led inpatient maternity services and inpatient children's services will be centralised.

The Royal Sussex County Hospital is expected to remain as the critical care hospital for the whole area.

The proposal for three A&Es was developed by local clinicians, supported by General Medical Council president Sir Graeme Catto, when the county looked set to lose services at two sites. It was part of a review across Surrey and Sussex that led to a high profile campaign.

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