The shape of future maternity services in East Sussex has been laid out in a new strategy and set of proposals.
NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother have been working with local doctors and other clinicians, as well as interested local people and groups, to come up with a strategy and proposals for safe and sustainable services for local women and babies for years to come.
These are based on having two consultant led maternity units, one at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings, the other at the District General Hospital in Eastbourne, and has been agreed by everyone who has helped put it together.
They will be considered for approval by the NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother boards later this month (26th March and 24th March respectively).
Called ‘Developing Maternity Services in East Sussex’, the Board report comprises a set of three documents – a maternity update briefing, the maternity services strategy and a paper about how local services should be developed over the next three years, including,
• further development of community services, for example improved access to midwives and ante-natal care.
• development of a maternity ‘network’ between Eastbourne, the Conquest Hospital in Hastings, and Brighton
• implementation of a perinatal mental health network across Sussex to provide support to mothers to be and new mums
• development of integrated care pathways to improve outcomes for women and their families, for example improved working between community and hospital staff to provide a ‘seamless’ service.
Mike Wood, Chief Executive of NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother said:
“Maternity services in East Sussex have been the subject of passionate local debate in recent times.
We have worked hard, in co-operation with clinicians and interested local people, to develop and agree proposals for the future which will deliver top quality services in the years ahead.
I am looking forward to discussing the plans at our board meetings and continuing our work from there.”
Richard Hallett is the independent Chair of the Maternity Services Development Panel which oversaw work on the draft strategy.
He said:
"I welcome this strategy which outlines the proposed approach to commissioning improved, high quality maternity services throughout East Sussex.
The proposals to strengthen community midwifery are especially important for a rural county such as East Sussex.
The commitment to consultant-led maternity services at both Eastbourne and Hastings, and the midwife-led birth centre at Crowborough, will reassure East Sussex women and their families that these services will remain local and easily accessible."
