PCT happy to get the message over maternity

The ideas have emerged over recent weeks as a direct result of responses to the Fit for the future consultation process.

The Primary Care Trusts have collated thousands of letters, emails, questionnaire slips and verbal inputs from local people, NHS staff and clinical experts.

In response to emerging ideas seven alternative proposals have now been submitted for assessment by an expert panel.

Chief executive Nick Yeo said after a meeting at Eastbourne Winter Garden on Monday: "I'm really pleased that so many people have taken the time to share their views and ideas with us.

"This level of engagement is what makes public consultations so valuable to those of us who are committed to making real changes for the better.

"We've asked people to share their views on our four proposals for change, which we developed in consultation with local doctors, nurses and midwives.

But we didn't stop there. This consultation incorporates an invitation to the community to suggest alternative ways of doing things.

Our boards, the majority of whom are non-executive directors who represent local people's interests, insisted on this as a way of ensuring that the community has as much influence as possible on the decision-making process."

The PCTs have set up a New Options Assessment Panel, which is independently chaired by the chairman-elect of the Royal College of Practitioners, to investigate any emerging options and identify whether they are deliverable. The panel is already looking at options 5a and 5b, which have been promoted by campaign groups in Hastings and Eastbourne. Last week they also started looking at emerging ideas, including:

'¢A proposal from a group of local obstetricians and gynaecologists, which would see consultant-led services placed on a single site at either Hastings or Eastbourne, with a midwife-led unit at a non-hospital location between Hastings and Eastbourne. (Options 6 and 7)

'¢A suggestion from the local Maternity Services Liaison Committee (User Group) to explore whether existing models of care in place in Barnstaple and North Lincolnshire could offer valuable lessons for East Sussex. (Options 8 and 9)

'¢A suggestion from a member of the public to develop a midwife-led service on the same site as a single consultant-led service (Hastings or Eastbourne) in addition to a midwife-led service on the non-consultant site. (Options 10 and 11.)

You can learn more about the proposals and say what's important by:

'¢visiting the consultation website at www.southeastcoastfff.nhs.uk

'¢sending a letter to: Fit for the future, Freepost SEA 2474, BN82ZZ

'¢sending an email to: [email protected]."

Information about the consultation, which runs until 27 July, is on www.southeastcoastfff.nhs.uk or people can write to Fit for Future, Freepost SEA 2474, BN8 2ZZ or email [email protected]

People can send in their response using the website, email, freepost address and by text (Sussex + response to 0778 620 0359).