Greg hails maternity service u-turn

Greg said: "I am delighted that the independent expert has thrown out the plan to close the maternity unit at Eastbourne District General Hospital and has found in favour of local people."

The chair of the independent review panel said: "The needs of local women and their families were at the heart of this review. Having considered all the facts available, visited both hospitals and met with a wide range of people, we concluded that womens' access to, and choice of, services would be seriously compromised if the proposals were implemented."

Greg added: "It just goes to show that local people were right all along, and I am sorry that we had to go through a very expensive, protracted and unnecessary consultation period to get to this result. There will still be suspicion that health cuts lay at the bottom of this proposal and not the real longterm interest of local people.

"I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the campaign for maternity service in both Eastbourne and Hastings and will continue to work with them to preserve these vital local facilities."