500 AT MATERNITY PROTEST MEETING

CAMPAIGNERS turned out in force on Tuesday evening (April 3) to make their feelings heard at a public consultation meeting over the future of maternity services in East Sussex.The meeting focussed specifically on obstetrics, specialist baby care and in patient gynaecology and proposals put forward over the future of maternity services at the DGH and the Conquest at Hastings.

Some 500 angry protesters at the Winter Garden claimed not enough research had been done and demanded to know if Option 5 which they had put forward would actually be taken into consideration.

The audience was made up of both Save the DGH supporters and Hands off the Conquest campaigners as well as those from the medical profession, councillors and MP Nigel Waterson.

They were able to put their questions to a panel which included GPs and a representative from the Primary Care Trust.

During the meeting the consultation was labelled a "sham", with one mother asking who she could hold responsible when the first lives were lost if changes were made to the maternity services.