THE determination of campaigners to reverse controversial changes to hospital maternity services in East Sussex is still clearly in evidence.

There is no sign of the fight to reinstate a consultant-led maternity unit at Eastbourne District General Hospital slowing down, with campaigners actually stepping up the battle by taking it to the Department of Health.

The group visited the department yesterday to call on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to set up an independent review.

The changes have meant the DGH now only has a midwife-run maternity unit and campaigners say women with high-risk pregnancies are potentially in danger as they have to travel further to St Leonards.

Health bosses say the changes were necessary on health and safety grounds but protestors are not convinced.

It is true there have been cases where babies have been born en route to hospital and the mothers involved also visited London yesterday.

Whatever happens in the future, it is clear this campaign group is not giving up or going away any time soon.

An independent review may be the best way to resolve this and bring this dispute, which began in 2007, to an end.