Worthing maternity services not at risk says Trust

Managers at Worthing Hospital say they have worked to address staff shortages at the maternity unit

Managers at the maternity unit of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex have said they are confident they now have enough staff to guarantee services over the summer.

The unit had been affected by a national shortage of midwives and neonatal nurses, leaving it with higher vacancy rates than usual, along with an increase in sickness.

West Worthing MP Dr Beccy Cooper recently met hospital managers over fears maternity services could be reduced.

But the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said those issues had been addressed.

The trust said the permanent removal of maternity services was never considered, and the possibility of a temporary suspension has now been removed.

It added 10 new midwives are due to start when they have completed their training in October.

Claire Hunt, director of nursing for children and gynaecology, said: “Thanks to our neonatal and maternity colleagues’ willingness to go the extra mile for the people they care for, all our families can be reassured that they will be able to have their babies at Worthing over the coming months and that we will look after them as we normally would.”

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