Greg slams GP

Dr Greg Wilcox addressed worried members of the public at a consultation meeting held last to discuss the four suggested options for the future of NHS services at the Conquest Hospital.

Speaking specifically about the threat to maternity care, Dr Wilcox said: "Sometimes you can receive your health-care at a GPs surgery, sometimes at local hospitals.

"The maternity services are a substantial changing service. I know concerns were raised about shutting one hospital or another.

"I've been a member of the maternity working group since it started and we are concerned about safety for the mothers and their babies but this argument is not just about the money."

He then warned: "Changes are going to take place and I think we have reached a crossroads with regards to maternity."

Clearly not impressed by Dr Wilcox's speech Conservative MP for Bexhill and Battle, Greg Barker responded: "The vast majority of the speech we have just heard was generic waffle. There are very real and specific concerns here about these cuts."

At a meeting on March 16 bosses of Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust expressed a preference for a midwife-led maternity unit in Hastings and a consultant-led service in Eastbourne.

However, it was made clear the decision-makers would listen to all objections before making a final verdict.

Speaking during the meeting at St Peter's Community Centre, Charles Everett, chairman of the Hastings and Rother PCT, said: "We are extremely keen to hear everybody's views.

"We will genuinely take account of all we hear when we come to make our final decision."

Last week's consultation was seen by many to be the perfect opportunity to push for a fifth option being mooted by campaign groups which would see maternity consultants at both sites.

Those who did attend were vocal in their support for this option but organisers were left frustrated as disappointingly few people turned up. Organiser Angela Paice said: "We would have liked to have seen more members of the public."

The consultation is now well under-way but a final decision date has not yet been fixed.