Herald digital journalist Sarah Dale caught the atmosphere both before and during meeting on camera and spoke with some of the angry people taking part in the march.

A new option which would see Worthing and St Richard's Hospital in Chichester both retaining their A&E departments was revealed at the crunch health meeting on Monday, October 15.

Worthing Hospital's chief executive, Stephen Cass, told the lively audience at the West Sussex Primary Care Trust consultation meeting that a new option was being put together by consultants and hospital managers.

Mr Cass said: "We have now moved to a stage where we've been involved in discussion with local consultants, consultants from St Richard's and GPs on a model which they think could be more viable for the future."

He went on to tell the audience at the Worthing Pavilion, estimated to include around 600 people, that the new option would see A&E and intensive care retained at both Worthing and St Richard's.

Current options would see only one of the hospitals keeping such services and the other being downgraded.

Mr Cass added: "We think it is possible, clinically and financially, to sustain a service in Worthing and Chichester – with A&E and intensive care on both sites.

"The new model has taken into account changing circumstances during the consultation.

"One of them is your views, the views of the public, and your voice is being heard very loudly and clearly by the people leading the consultation from the PCT.

"The second is the view from the staff – and the staff have pushed hard to have a model they would be happy to deliver in the long term."

PCT chief executive John Wilderspin said: "We welcome the new proposals being worked on by the clinicians."

Dr Mark Signy, a consultant at Worthing who has campaigned against any downgrading plans, said: "I proposed two major hospitals 14 months ago –this was completely ruled out by the then different PCT because it wasn't financially sustainable.

"This is not true – the evidence is both are independently financially sustainable."

Mr Signy went on to say that if nothing was changed, in 2010 Worthing Hospital would be in profit and St Richard's would be breaking even.

What do you think?

What are your views on the new option to keep A&E services at Worthing and St Richards?

To what extent does this make you want to take part in the campaign to keep Worthing Hospital operating as it is?

Let the Herald know, leave your comments in the space below.

You can also write to the Herald by emailing letters@worthingtoday.co.uk or send a letter to Worthing Herald, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.