Campaigners are urging the public to turn out in force and make their views known on Saturday May 17 in the Forum at Horsham from 12 noon, while another rally will be held in Crawley at 2.30pm.

The call to arms, which has cross-party support in Horsham, has been issued ahead of a review into health services for North East West Sussex.

Should a hospital be built in the area? Add your comment. Click here.

Speakers at the event will include Conservative Horsham MP Francis Maude, West Sussex County Council leader Henry Smith and the leader of Horsham District Council Liz Kitchen as well as leading Liberal Democrat Dr David Skipp, a notable GP in the town for many years.

To read the views of WSCC leader Henry Smith and former County Times editor David Briffett, click here.

Dr Skipp (L.Dem, Roffey North) said: "I think the development of a new hospital is of primary importance for Horsham and Crawley.

"If you look at the future we are going to have a huge influx of people because of the new houses that are going to be built and one has got to have the infrastructure to cope.

"I think this is a once only opportunity that we have to demonstrate the feeling that people have about that in our communities."

Together the campaigners are calling on health chiefs to look again at a Government review known as the Bagnall Report which found a new hospital was needed for this part of Sussex.

Co-chairman of the Campaign 4 Pease Pottage Hospital and county council leader Henry Smith said: "For Crawley and Horsham area residents local acute healthcare is the most important issue for the majority since Crawley Hospital saw accident and emergency and maternity services taken away a few years ago.

"Crawley is a regionally important town, both economically and as a transport hub, most notably having Gatwick Airport within its boundaries.

"It has an ageing and growing population who have increased healthcare needs and serves a wider population that extends in to rural hinterlands as far south as Billingshurst.

"Yet the several hundred thousand local residents living in north-east West Sussex must travel to East Surrey Hospital near Redhill for most hospital services, despite the fact that this hospital now serves more West Sussex residents than it does those in Surrey."

The Campaign 4 Pease Pottage Hospital, which also has Mr Maude as a founding member, successfully commissioned professionals to draw up plans for a new hospital.

The Chairman of the General Medical Council Sir Graeme Catto will carry out a review into health services during the next few months.

However this will not address the calls for a new hospital in the Horsham area.

David Briffett, editorial director of the West Sussex County Times until his retirement seven years ago, has been a leading advocate for a new acute hospital serving the area for many years.

He explained A&E and maternity were moved away from Crawley Hospital in 1999, resulting in widespread protests.

Health chiefs did grant the community a peace offering though, Mr Briffett said.

"It was agreed that health services in our area should come under "review" and that a team of NHS experts would go over all the areas of concern with a fine tooth comb," he said.

"This investigation took 18 months and resulted in the now famous Bagnall Report which concluded that the best needs of North Sussex would be served by the building of a new district general hospital, ideally placed on land already available at Pease Pottage.

"Sadly for us, this NHS report continues to be side-lined by the managers, in spite of the all too clear realisation that East Surrey Hospital struggles to cope with the demands of its massive and artificially created catchment area."

Further information and comment appears in the County Times.

For comprehensive coverage of all the stories making the local news, read Friday's edition of the West Sussex County Times newspaper. Website users who wish to purchase a copy of the County Times newspaper but live outside our circulation area can do so by telephoning 01403 751200 and asking for reception. The cost of the newspaper plus postage in England is £1.53 which can be paid for by credit card. Overseas rates are also available, on request.