A LONG-AWAITED decision on the future of maternity services in East Sussex will be made later this month.

Health bosses held a public consultation looking at six options aimed at maintaining safe services across the county, including at Eastbourne District General Hospital and Conquest Hospital in St Leonards.

However none of the options included having consultant-led midwife units at both Eastbourne and St Leonards.

Maternity services at Eastbourne were temporarily downgraded to midwife-led a year ago because of safety fears caused by problems in recruiting enough staff to cover both departments.

Consultant services, plus children’s inpatient services, are now currently based at the Conquest. Protesters who successfully fought to save maternity services in Eastbourne six years ago have come up with their own option, which includes having full consultant-led services at both hospitals.

The results of the consultation will be decided at a meeting of the three clinical commission-ing groups (CCGs) on June 25.

High Weald Lewes Havens CCG chairwoman Elizabeth Gill said: “We know how important NHS services are for people and we are determined to commission safe, high quality services for local women and children in the long-term.

“Our decision will be based on the best possible clinical evidence, and informed by widespread engagement with the public, service users, partners and local clinicians.”

The meeting will be at the Winter Gardens in Eastbourne at 2.30pm.