Greg joins Conquest rally

Mr Barker, who last week spoke out against the potential downgrading of maternity care services at both Eastbourne and Hastings in a Commons debate, met local campaigners Margaret Williams and Liz Walke on Tuesday to attend an All Party Local Hospitals Group meeting in Westminster Hall where they discussed the forthcoming health care consultation options due to be announced by the East Sussex Hospitals Trust later in the year.

Afterwards, they spoke about the April 27 public meeting that Greg is organising at the De La Warr Pavilion where key health professionals and community leaders will address the key issues facing local health care services at the Conquest and Eastbourne DGH following the publication of the consultation options.

Mr Barker said: "It is very important that we all keep up the pressure on the local East Sussex Hospitals Trust and on the Government ahead of the announcement of the health care consultation options later this year.

"As I pointed put during the maternity care debate in Parliament last week, any cuts to vital health care services at either the Conquest or Eastbourne DGH could mean constituents facing a journey of up to 50 minutes to get to a maternity unit.

"In that case, a poorly-resourced midwife service or home births may become not just an option, but a necessity. I hope that we can unite all local people around this campaign and build a true cross-party coalition to stop these iniquitous cuts.

"Anyone wanting more information on the April 27 public meeting, and more details will be announced in due course, or wanting to help should either call my local office on 01424 219117 or log on to my website, GregoryBarker.com."