Pregnancy services may go A DECISION on the future of local high-risk pregnancy services will be made later this year. Hospital bosses who run both the Conquest and Eastbourne's DGH said either one of the two units would likely close. This could mean pregnant women may have to travel almost 20 miles to Eastbourne if the unit closes at the hospital in The Ridge.
Dr David Scott, medical director for East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, said there was 'very strong recommendation' from the Royal College of Obsteticians and Gynaecologists that one unit should close.
He said: "All the options we are looking at aim to provide emergency care at both Eastbourne and Hastings. There is very strong recommendation that we should put obstetrics onto a single site. The neo-natal units would also have to be located next to the obstetrics services."
Dr Scott said the options were being looked at because there were too few births at both hospitals requiring special care. Around 3,200 babies are born at both the Conquest and DGH every year and around 20 per cent are high-risk pregnancies.
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