A hospital maternity unit could temporarily close this summer with women being sent up to 20 miles away to give birth.

Changes to the way junior doctors are trained come into force on August 1 meaning services could be cut at either Eastbourne District General Hospital (DGH) or the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards.

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs both hospitals, is working with primary care trusts (PCTs) to find a solution.

The changes in training will lead to less experienced doctors working on hospital wards which means they will need more supervision to ensure women get a safe service.

Closing one maternity unit is one of the options being considered by managers along with the possibility of recruiting more staff or changing rotas and shift patterns.

East Sussex Downs PCT and Weald and Hastings and Rother PCT have launched a separate public consultation this month which could lead to either one of the hospitals losing consultant-led maternity services.

Campaigners fighting to keep full services at both hospitals are worried any temporary closure could end up being a permanent one and have branded the consultation a sham.

Megan Fellowes, from Eastbourne, said: "It looks like the decision is coming through the back door. If a unit does close this summer then I think that will be it.

"I want to see both units staying open until the consultation is over and a final decision made.

In a joint statement the hospital trust and PCTs said: "Neither the PCTs nor hospital trust want to see the temporary closure of either maternity unit as an interim measure.

"There are however very real challenges from August 1 and all options are currently being explored jointly to ensure the service provided is safe after this date.

"National changes in junior doctors' training will impact on the provision of some services. These changes come into effect on August 1 and will affect the way that maternity services are provided as they relate to the experience of the doctors who will be providing the service after that date.

"The PCTs, who commission this service from the trust and who are currently consulting publicly for a period of four months on it, will not have made any decision on the future provision of maternity services by the time these national changes occur.

"Therefore it is essential the hospital trust makes contingency plans for the interim period to ensure adequate medical cover is provided at a suitable level of experience.

"Our concern is to ensure the maintenance of a safe service for expectant mothers. These plans should not be seen as undermining the consultation process and ultimate decision, in any way.

"Expectant mothers are still being booked to both maternity units in Eastbourne and Hastings whilst the interim plans are discussed with these primary care trusts.

"We will keep all expectant mothers informed should there be any change in these arrangements in the future."

Members of the Save the DGH and the Hands Off the Conquest campaign say the changes are down to money and the PCT should give the hospital the funding it needs to recruit the extra staff needed to keep both units open after August.