Press, radio and TV crews were called to the meeting at the West Sussex primary care trust's headquarters in Goring this afternoon (Thursday, May 1) with the information "embargoed" until midnight.

When members of the PCT panel saw that Mr Bottomley was there, he was approached by PCT staff and eventually was personally asked to leave by PCT chief executive John Wilderspin.

A stunned Mr Bottomley said: "This is the third time in 31 years as an MP that something has happened that I didn't expect."

He added: "If they are saying nothing of consequence then there should be no reason why they should not allow me to be there, and if they are saying something of importance, then the local MP should be there to hear what is being said.

"We have had enormous support from all the media in the campaign to maintain services at Worthing Hospital, but on a wider point of principle, surely it is not right for an elected member of parliament to have to rely on the media for information instead of hearing it first hand.

"I have been surprised, shocked and disappointed by this misjudgement by the PCT."

The press conference was called to discuss background agenda papers for the next PCT meeting- the papers are to be published online tomorrow (Friday, May 2).

The PCT have said that no news organisations should publish details of the press conference until a minute past midnight.

Afterwards Mr Wilderspin told the Herald that all the MPs had been briefed a month beforehand.

The Herald revealed today (Thursday, May 1) that the PCT planned to recommend service model three for the future - keeping a level of A&E at all West Sussex hospitals under review.

The question of where the major general hospital will be sited for the future has still to be decided but campaigners say Worthing is the only choice based on the facts.

Click on the green play button to hear Worthing consultant Lui Forni explaining why Worthing needs full A&E and why the model chosen by the PCT is not the fairytale ending it is depicted as.

Look out for a full report from the press conference at midnight.

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