News today that Eastbourne can keep its consultant-led maternity services has been warmly welcomed by members of the East Sussex Health Overview Scrutiny Committee (HOSC).
Cllr Sylvia Tidy, HOSC chair, summed up the committee's reaction saying:
"This announcement is a fantastic result for East Sussex and confirms the value of the committee in its role as a watchdog, holding local health bodies to account on behalf o
f local communities.
HOSC called in the Secretary of State because we, as local councillors, were unconvinced by the proposals. The committee felt an independent review was necessary to check that the plans were safe for local people.
This was not a decision HOSC took lightly. We spent five months gathering evidence before coming to this conclusion. We heard from hospital doctors, midwives, GPs, the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), South East Coast Ambulance Trust, Patient and Public Involvement Forums and, essentially, the local mothers that use the services.
Our own findings have now been validated by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, and the ruling by the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP.
Our priority now is to work with the Primary Care Trusts' to ensure local people continue to receive the high standards of maternity care they need – at both Eastbourne and Hastings."
