Saturday - NHS latest

Local NHS chiefs are still in 'listening mode' over options for the future of hospital services - but the prospect of a single actute maternity unit for Eastbourne and Hastings remains high on the agenda.

That was the message this week from Nick Yeo, chief executive of the Primary Care Trusts reponsible for the Eastbourne and Hastings areas.

The East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT and Hastings and Rother PCT are jointly responsible for driving changes in the way health care will be provided in future.

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At a briefing meeting for Eastbourne and Hastings editors on Wednesday Mr Yeo explained how proposals are evolving, but emphasised that nothing will happen until the public have had their say.

The future of Accident and Emergency and maternity services at the DGH have have been at the root of deep public concerns about cuts, and Mr Yeo confirmed that these departments remain the main focus of attention.

And he admitted that is was possible that acute, consultant-led maternity services could be centred at one of the hospitals, with midwifery units for routine births remaining at both.

Asked how the location for acute services - which would include the special care baby unit - would be made, Mr Yeo admitted that the decision would be a difficult one. Factors such as the degree of problem births resulting from public health concerns - smoking during childbirth, for instance - would be taken into account.

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This would point towards a decision in favour of Hastings - but then Eastbourne had a higher rate of premature births.

On the question of A&E units Mr Yeo said it was 'very unlikely' that the PCTs would propose significant changes. Twenty-four hour A&E would remain at both hospitals.

However, overnight emergency surgery could be centred at one of the hospitals. This would exclude trauma surgery for victims of accidents who would continue to be taken to the closest hospital.

He ruled out any change to paediatric services in the short term but said there could be changes in years ahead.

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Mr Yeo said he was committed to ensuring 'two vibrant and strong hospitals' and he believed that the majority of healthcare should be provided 'as locally as possible.'

The possibilities for delivering healthcare were changing, however, with doctors' surgeries able to take on more. He insisted that financial pressures on the PCTs - East Sussex Downs and Weald has a rolling deficit of up to 10m - were not the driving force behind changes.

The consultation process leading up to any changes is unlikely to be completed before early summer. Next Tuesday's 'stakeholder' meeting on the subject at the Winter Garden Gold Room will be given an update by Mr Yeo.

The PCTs will unveil their final proposals at a series of major public meetings beginning in March. Mr Yeo said the public will have every opportunity to give their feedback in a variety of ways.

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Final decisions will then be made, and implementation of changes will begin in the latter part of the year.

Referring to next Tuesday's meeting, chairman of East Sussex Down and Weald PCT John Barnes said, "I would ask that people attending the event come prepared to listen to the information we have to share and to join in the group work we have planned. This will help us build on our discussion phase prior to formal public consultation.

"East Sussex PCTs are still in listening mode prior to deciding upon the options on which they will consult, but they want also to develop the criteria that will help them reach a final decisiob once the consultation process has elicited the views of the public."

Mr Yeo said he was looking forward to a "lively dicussion and ideas event."

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He added, "I must emphasise, however, that although I will be able to provide a lot more detail about our plans, this is still very much discussion and not consultation. No decisions have been taken yet and will not be taken until we have held a formal public consultation."

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