Friday - future of the Conquest

When questioned this week on the future of the local A&E MP Michael Foster said that he was cautiously optimistic that reconfiguration plans to be published at the beginning of February will not propose a closure or downgrading of either Hastings or Eastbourne Accident & Emergency Departments.

"At this stage it is still only my best guess but I think the local Primary Care Trust who Tony Blair told us would be advising on the future have been listening hard as to what local people have been saying.

I fully anticipate that they will not now suggest a closure or downgrading of either site although all this is subject to consultation and the campaign continues until we have it signed and settled".

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The PCT who are running consultation meetings prior to the proposals being published in early February will also be looking at other services in particular maternity services in Hastings and Eastbourne.

Due to an agreement between the Royal Colleges and the Government these services will be subject to greater supervision as from August which means that the Consultant staff who are currently part of the work force will be required to supervise others and thus the difficulty of maintaining this greater cover over two sites.

The likely outcome is a consultant led maternity service either at Hastings or Eastbourne with a midwifery led service at the other site.

"Of course we would all want to see an enhanced service at both ends" said Michael Foster "but I will certainly be arguing that if changes are to be made the Conquest Hospital is the obvious site for a Consultant led service both because it is purpose built and because the social profile of Hastings is such that many do not have transport and more babies need special care.

In any event Eastbourne does have the choice of Brighton as well as Hastings as an alternative whereas in Hastings the travel distances to Eastbourne are unacceptable in an emergenc