Maternity decision to be reviewed by independent body

The move comes after a decision by Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Health.

East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC), which acts as a watchdog, has welcomed his announcement that the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) will carry out the full review of the controversial proposals and investigate concerns raised.

Cllr Sylvia Tidy, HOSC chairman, said: "Local mothers-to-be deserve the very best in maternity services. The IRP can help us ensure this happens.

"Its job as independent experts is to weigh up the pros and cons of these proposals and give informed advice to the Secretary of State as to how maternity services in Eastbourne and Hastings should be changed."

East Sussex Downs and Weald and Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are making the case for one consultant-led maternity service at Hastings and a midwife-led birthing centre at Eastbourne.

Their decision was made last December, which attracted anger from campaigners from both Hands off the Conquest and its Eastbourne counterpart group Save the DGH.

Both campaigns wanted to see both the Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne DGH keep full consultant-led maternity services.

Over the next month, the IRP will discuss the issues with a wide range of stakeholders from obstetricians and midwives to local campaigners, NHS bosses and HOSC members.

It will also consider additional submitted evidence, such as the business case behind the proposals as put forward by the county's PCTs, and HOSC's findings following its scrutiny of the 'Fit for the Future' plans.

The review will draw to a close in mid-June.

After that, the IRP will make recommendations to the Secretary of State who is expected to announce his decision in the autumn.