The Government yesterday defended the closure of local maternity units, saying mothers-to-be were "more than willing" to travel further for the best care.

Maternity "tsar" Dr Sheila Shribman confirmed plans to redesign services up and down the country.

The changes would give women options of a consultant-led maternity unit, a midwife-led unit in a hospital or community setting, or a home birth overseen by midwives.

She said: "The reality is we are going to need to organise ourselves differently. Delivering the best possible services for all women and their babies will mean that changes will have to take place."

Her comments will dismay campaigners in Sussex who fear health bosses plan to shut a maternity unit at either Hastings Conquest or Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Services may also be downgraded at Worthing Hospital, St Richard's in Chichester and the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath.

Dr Shribman, the national clinical director for children, published two reports on the "clinical case for change" to maternity and children's services. She said there was "no national blueprint" on how services would look and said decisions would be made at a local level.

She said: "I understand why people are fearful of change. They think they are losing something.

"It's not all about beds. We have moved on from that.

"If you have to travel to get the best care then families are more than willing to do that.

"Women will not be losing access to a consultant when they need it."

She denied the move was about saving the NHS money.

"I don't believe that the changes that I'm making are about budget,"

she said. In fact if you look at some reconfigurations proposed there might be a need for increased investment in order to deliver the vision rather than decreased investment."

Nigel Waterson, Conservative MP for Eastbourne, said: "The Government is trying to manufacture expert evidence to back its cuts agenda.

"It's all about money and it always has been about money.

"The notion that mothers are at less risk by travelling 21 miles over very poor roads between Eastbourne and Hastings is just ludicrous.

"I would advise this tsar to come down to East Sussex to see for herself."

Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Sandra Gidley said: "For a woman who is eight months pregnant, travelling an extra 30 minutes is not only inconvenient but could be damaging to her health."

Last October a health minister hinted that East Sussex was likely to lose one of its maternity units.

Caroline Flint said maternity wards which handled fewer than 2,000 deliveries a year - such as those in Eastbourne's District General Hospital and Hastings' Conquest Hospital - tended to offer "poor" quality services.

Patients will finally learn what health trusts are planning for Sussex maternity services when they launch a consultation in the spring.