Mums-to-be may face Hastings dash

The journey could take around 45 minutes '“ and maybe longer at peak times.

Campaingers fear people will die, there will be more sick babies and massive compensation claims if a major East Sussex maternity unit shuts later this year.

Those are the fears expressed by a spokeswoman for the Save the Eastbourne DGH campaign as public consultation begins on plans to change NHS services in the Eastbourne area.

The controversial changes look almost certain to see the closure of a specialist maternity unit at either the DGH or the Conquest Hospital, Hastings.

Four options for what have been described as essential change do not include retaining consultant-led obstetric and maternity care in both towns.

The consultation plan was formally adopted on Friday at a meeting in Uckfield.

Seaford's MP Norman Baker told the Express: 'We can take comfort from the fact that the nightmare scenario '“ the loss of A&E at Eastbourne '“ has been avoided.

'However, the potential loss of maternity services causes me considerable concern.

'It is unrealistic and unacceptable to expect mothers to travel from Seaford to Hastings, which is far too far away, or to Brighton, which is struggling hard to cope with the volume of patients it already has, without loading even more on them.'

Save the DGH Campaign spokeswoman Liz Walke slammed health bosses for not including her fellow campaigners' fifth option '“ to retain both maternity units.

Her concerns focused on baby deaths if journey time and distance made urgent medical intervention impossible.