Hospitals consultation approved

They also approved the public consultation process.

Public consultation on four options to 'improve childbirth, special baby and inpatient gynaecology care' is planned to start on March 26 (or as soon as possible thereafter) and run until July 6.

At the meeting, members indicated a preference for two of the proposed options (options 3 and 4) and expressed their willingness to help develop any other options put forward for evaluation against the criteria used for their options.

The options, developed in discussion with representatives of local people and NHS staff, aim to ensure mothers-to-be have the choice of midwife-led care and specialist consultant-led care in East Sussex.

Under the options, more women would be supported to have 'normal' births through enhanced midwife-led care and there would be one, 24-hours a day, seven days a week specialist unit at Eastbourne District General or the Conquest Hospital, Hastings, for the small number of women and babies who need it.

As specialist baby care and gynaecology services are linked to obstetric services, all of the options propose a specialist baby care unit and inpatient gynaecology care are provided on the same site as the obstetric unit.

Antenatal and postnatal care would continue to be provided locally, and under all the options the full range of assessment, outpatient, investigative, and day services would remain at both hospitals, including the two emergency pregnancy services.

The Boards emphasised their commitment to sustaining two viable hospitals in East Sussex, including accident and emergency services and emergency care at both.