Maternity service talks

HOSC members will meet in County Hall, Lewes, on Monday January 28, at 3.30pm, to consider the decision made by the county's two Primary Care

Trusts to change services across Eastbourne and Hastings.

The meeting is open for the public to observe, and anyone wishing to attend should contact Mr. Sam White, Scrutiny Support Officer, tel. (01273) 481581 or email [email protected] . The meeting will also be broadcast live on the internet, accessed via the HOSC website www.eastsussexhealth.org .

At the meeting Nick Yeo, Chief Executive of the PCTs, will state the case for having one consultant-led maternity service at Hastings, with a midwife-led birthing centre at Eastbourne.

He will also respond to the recommendations made in the HOSC report, October 2007 - available from www.eastsussexhealth.org . Members of HOSC will then raise questions to help them determine whether the evidence supports the case for change.

At the end of the meeting, members of HOSC will take a vote on whether to support the PCTs' decision, or to challenge it by referring it to the Secretary of State for an independent review.

Download the agenda for the meeting from www.eastsussexhealth.org/agendas.html.