Eastbourne decision raises hopes for PRH maternity unit

Responding to the Health Minister's rejection of the proposed reconfiguration of maternity services in East Sussex,

Serena Tierney, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Mid Sussex, said:

"News that Eastbourne DGH will retain its full maternity services raises the likelihood that maternity services at the PRH will also be reprieved. It is particularly interesting to see that the minister rejected the PCT's argument that concentrating maternity services in Hastings would be safer. He also placed considerable weight on reduced accessibility.

"These are the same factors that affect the proposals to downgrade the PRH maternity unit. I have today written to the minister congratulating him on this decision and urging him to reject the PRH proposals on the same grounds."