The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee unanimously backed a statement on the West Sussex PCT's Fit for the Future plans, declaring uncertainties and sensitivities in financial projections were still too great to draw conclusions on any of the options put forward.

"In this circumstances, it is also difficult to comment on the relative financial merits of one option in comparison with another," it added.

Committee member Cllr James Walsh said this was basically saying members were not convinced by any of the financial projections given to them.

"There have been huge variations in both capital and revenue finance streams for the next ten years," he declared.

"We are questioning the robustness of these forecasts. We don't believe all of them, and would like to see more evidence to underpin some of the data we have been given."

He was supported by fellow West Sussex county councillor Andrew Barrett-Miles, who said: "I agree with Cllr Walsh, particularly with regard to some of the costs, and how to spend the capital."

The committee also approved a proposal by Cllr David Rogers to press for more evidence before commenting on the best location for a proposed major general hospital in West Sussex.

The proposal called for evidence from Primary Care Trusts on issues including accessibility of services, socio-economic factors and potential improvements to health outcomes before it could comment.

A report approved by the committee said a great deal more information evidently remained to be produced about the costs of the various options.

"The financial data which the committee has seen on the costs and financial viability of stand-along midwife-led birthing units are extremely sketchy," it added.

Concern was also expressed about the possible additional financial burdens which could be placed on local authority social care budgets by the proposed changes.