The move comes just a week after it was announced by West Sussex PCT that Worthing would be the county's major hospital and St Richard's in Chichester would be downgraded.

Council leader Henry Smith said council members agreed on Friday a notice of motion which said local NHS services should be accountable to people they serve.

Mr Smith said the takeover bid was not in direct response to the PCT's controversial Fit for the Future consultation.

He said: "It wasn't the biggest matter but exemplifies why we think there should be greater democracy."

He said the Fit for the Future consultation would have been a "more robust" process had it been "subject to democratic control".

Mr Smith went on to say he was "delighted for Worthing" over the decision to make it the county's major hospital, but he said he was "worried about the detrimental effects on St Richard's and the Princess Royal".

Mr Smith said he had written to the Secretary of State for health over the Fit for the Future decisions and expected it to be resolved by the time any takeover deal was secured.

Liberal Democrat county councillor Derek Deedman made the proposal to bring the functions of the PCT under democratic control.

He said: "Direct county council responsibility for local health services would enable the democratic deficit to be addressed, and would lead to improved working between health and social care.

"If it had already been in place, this would have enabled the appalling original Fit for the Future proposal to be avoided."

Rubber stamped

THE recommendation for Worthing to become the county's Major General Hospital (MGH) was rubber-stamped on Wednesday, June 4 – much to the delight of campaigners.

John Wilderspin, chairman of the PCT, said Worthing was "the best option for the county".

But he recognised the decision would now be subject to close review by the members of the West Sussex Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny committee .

The full transformation of Worthing Hospital could take between three and five years. Worthing will retain a full A&E, paediactrics, emergency surgery services, consultant-led maternity services and would also be the home of a separate midwife-led unit.

According to the PCT, there will be a further £6million invested in the ambulance service, in terms of new vehicles and more staff.

Campaigners for St Richard's have now vowed to start judicial review proceedings.

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