New mums face trip to Eastbourne

Bosses at the debt-ridden Trust are seeking ways to save money and are considering closing the facilities at either the Hastings or Eastbourne hospital.

If the Hastings unit is shut down at least 2,000 expectant mothers a year would have to travel to Eastbourne.

Many Bexhill mums could benefit as the journey to Eastbourne is more straight-forward than getting to the Ridge at Hastings.

Dr David Scott, medical director, said at Wednesday's Trust board meeting: "We should move the services into a single unit on the grounds of clinical safety.

"The numbers of births at each site are quite low.

"A rate of 2,000 births is needed to run a viable unit.

"Last year the number of births in Eastbourne was 1,767 and in Hastings it was 1,589.

"This is well below the 2,000 requirement to run a fully functional obstetrics unit."

Dr Scott said the long term future of both units operating as separate entities was in 'great doubt'.

He said: "As of Tuesday it was agreed that we need more time to work through the options.

"It is inescapable that we have to move to a single unit.

"Hopefully in the next three months it should be clearer what unit should close."

Dr Scott said the future of the units needed to be looked at following the recent resignation of two obstetric and gynaecology consultants.

Trust bosses also said two units were not sustainable because of staff shortages, changes in medical education, the anticipated effect of the European Working Time Directive affecting doctors' hours of work, and affordability.

This week Hastings and Rye MP Michael Foster said he would fight any proposals to close the maternity and neo-natal units at the Conquest 'to the bitter end'.

Managers told staff on Monday they were thinking of closing the Conquest's maternity unit.

But the plan was withdrawn after opposition from surgeons.

Mr Foster was told of the about-turn by Dr Scott late Tuesday afternoon.