Brighton’s main hospital is a step closer to becoming the main accident and emergency centre for the South East.
The Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Eastern Road, has been told it can spend the money needed to boost its major trauma team.
Hospital boss Duncan Selbie told staff: “We have appointed surgeons with specialty training in pelvic and lower limb reconstruction.
“And we are recruiting additional trauma surgeons.”
The appointments are the first stage in a five-year “major trauma investment programme”.
The programme, devised by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Sussex, will mean fewer patients have to travel to London for specialist care.
Mr Selbie said: “Many lives will be saved and long-term disabilities reduced.”
Next year the trust will recruit neurosurgical experts to treat patients with brain and spinal injuries under the five-year investment programme.
The trust expects to base all its neurosurgical experts eventually at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.
