Sick midwives force cancellation of home births (From The Argus)

Sick midwives force cancellation of home births

2:40pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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Women planning to give birth at home are having to go into hospital instead because so many midwives are off sick or on maternity leave.

Managers at East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust have had to temporarily suspend the service to make sure it has enough cover at its maternity units at Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards.

Campaigners who won the fight to save consultant maternity services at the county's hospitals welcomed the move.

Leading campaigner Liz Walke, of Eskdale Close, Eastbourne, said the decision was sensible and the safety of women should come first.

Home births are becoming increasingly popular with many more women opting for them instead of going into a hospital environment.

Health bosses in East Sussex are currently drawing up long term plans for the future of all maternity services in the county.

This includes keeping full consultant maternity units at both hospitals and providing more services in the community.