Save the DGH campaigner Liz Walke stood up to ask the question at the East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust (PCT) monthly meeting.
Would anyone be resigning, she asked, and if not, why not?

Board chair John Barnes said, "The board sees no more reason for resignations now than it did in December last year when the joint committee took its initial decision by qualified majority.

"All members of the board recognised that this was a complex and very difficult decision in which different risks would have to be balanced.

The decision-making process always allowed for the possibility of an appeal by way of reference to the Secretary of State and we acknowledged the value of taking a second opinion."

He said the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, appointed by Health Secretary Alan Johnson to investigate the plan to move consultant-led maternity from the DGH to the Conquest in Hastings, had acknowledged the thoroughness of the PCT's work in putting forward the strategy and the need for change even though it said the service should be kept in both towns.

He added, "The board has accepted that judgement unanimously and only those that did not do so would have any reason to resign."

Asked how the trust had worked to increase the number of maternity staff, which it said was at the 'margin of safety' in its justification for moving maternity, Mr Barnes said two extra middle-grade posts were brought in last year and six additional midwives this year.

New positions have also been introduced, for an infant feeding specialist midwife, an antenatal screening co-ordinator, a part-time, short-term perinatal mental health development midwife and a part-time, short term midwife co-ordinating the Department of Health policy Maternity Matters. These are hoped to be filled in the next few months.

The PCT is due to publish its new plan for maintaining emergency maternity services in Hastings and Eastbourne today (Friday).