There were a couple of thousand who turned up for the march from the pier to the Town hall, via the town centre, in a well organised and controlled event.

In my view, the lady that has made this campaign happen, Liz Walke, is a local hero.

She has worked tirelessly to make sure Eastbournes' voice is heard in the right places.

Not only does she 'front up' these events, but behind the scenes she attends all the public meetings of the Hosptal trusts, and has got to grips with the technical/financial/medical arguments which are behind this process - no mean feat!

And my mate Tim Cobb deserves praise for having the idea of sending a Christmas card to the Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, signed by thousands of local people, calling on him to make good on his belief that Hastings is too far for pregant mums to go to have their babies.

MP Nigel Waterson was joined by the MPs for Bexhill and Battle, Lewes and Wealden, who all gave excellent speeches - the Hastings MP also sent a message of support.

The BBC's Geoff Clark, chaired the rally, and interviewed GP Dr John Clarke (another local hero), Vince Argent, the consultant obstetrician, GP's from Hastings and Seaford and some members of the public - all giving the same view that we want - in fact demand - our NHS (paid for with our taxes), invested in to serve the benefit of local people, not the whim of the government.

So where are we now?
>> We've had 2 years of campaigning against the downgrading
>> All local MPs are on the same side (this includes Labour)
>> All local politicians are in agreement (Conservatives, Labour, Greens and Libdems)
>> Businesses have leant their support
>> Thousands have marched through the streets
>> Tens of thousands have signed petitions
>> GPs have threatened a vote of no confidence in the PCT (Primary Care Trust) if they go ahead with single siting (they can make life very difficut if they want to)
>> The campaign group will call on the board to resign if it makes the wrong decision
>> The consultation period (flawed though it was), ended months ago

And we still don't know when we'll have the answer.

It should have been this coming week, and that's why the march was planned for Saturday - but it seems the PCT board will keep us waiting longer, scared as they are of actually making a decision.

Sometimes in life, it desn't take much working out that things are wrong.

This change, closing maternity in Eastbourne, potentially leading to further downgrading in the future in either Eastbourne or Hastings - is plain wrong.

Here's a few reasons why.

FACT - Eastbourne and District is a growing area, and this will continue over the coming decades.
FACT - Hastings is over 20 miles away with poor quality roads, which takes anything from 30 minutes to an hour and a half to travel, depending on the time of day
FACT - the maternity unit at Brighton is often full
FACT - the vast majority of local GP's, nurses, midwives and other health professionals are againt the changes.

I, and my family, like most residents in Eastbourne, have good reason to be thankful that the DGH is there, with all core srvices available.

If this proposed change goes ahead it will be an absolute scandal, and the people of Eastbourne won't take it lying down.

So come on PCT, get on with it.

You know what the people think - so do your job honourably, and with integrity.

Make the right decision, and let us move on without this ridiculous circus going on any longer.


Ian writes his own blog at www.iloveeastbourne.co.uk