This is an incredibly naive decision that I fear will ultimately cost lives. As anybody who has ever driven between Eastbourne & The Conquest Hospital is only too aware, it is a tortuous route and high speed ambulance transfers will be dangerous. I also believe that the number of annual deliveries in Eastbourne to be greater than those in Hastings. The argument that the latter has higher areas of deprivation is not convincing: Eastbourne has a growing population and is not the ' affluent sleepy retirement haven' that is often portrayed. There are several areas of so-called 'deprivation' in the town and the average age of the population is falling. This argument also pre-supposes that members of higher socio-economic groups do not experience problems during pregnancy & labour. However, what upsets me as much is the fact that the whole 'consultation' exercise appears to have been a sham: I think most of the staff in Eastbourne maternity services knew what the decision would be long ago, and this announcement comes as no great surprise. Forget all the arguments about 'quality of care', this is about money and represents the start of the downgrading of the DGH: first maternity services; paediatrics and A&E to follow.

I note that 'special instruction' is to be given to ambulance crews re the journey to the Conquest. Presumably they are going to be taught to make the ambulance fly. Beacuse that's the only way they'll get there in under an hour!