PCT chief exec on future of Conquest

Nick Yeo, chief executive of the Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust, said there will only be one consultant-led maternity unit in East Sussex. At present, there are two, in Hastings and Eastbourne.

He said a 36-page document will be released to the public on March 26. That document will include various options, but no recommendation.

There will then be public meetings, leaflets placed in libraries and community centres, and the PCT will make speakers available for groups such as Wis.

He said, 'There will always be tragic things that happen, and we accept the level of public concern about people having to travel a longer distance than previously.

'But we have got to look at the bigger picture, and we think on balance the priority is for people to receive the best treatment available. That can be done with one unit.

'We have two smaller units at present and there have been times when both have been closed, and have been unreliable. Obviously we have to minimise that.'

He said there are a number of issues which must be considered - public opinion, clinical view, economic perspective and public health viewpoint.

After the consultation ends in July, a decision would likely be made by October. The changes would then take place in a metter of months.

He stressed that the future of Accident and Emergency services is not at risk, and therefore does not form part of the public consultation.

He said that finance is one factor - closing one of the units will save around 1million - but he said the change would be driven by the need to do what is best.