Protest over decision to pause births at hospital

A protest has been held outside Crowborough War Memorial Hospital

A protest has been held outside a hospital in East Sussex where birthing services have been temporarily suspended.

Births are paused at the Crowborough War Memorial Hospital, which sees between 10 and 20 births a month, until May next year.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said it was because of staff shortages and its priority was to provide "safe, high-quality and reliable maternity care for families".

Antenatal and postnatal services will continue but families will have to travel to Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone or Haywards Heath for births.

Mother-of-two Amy Fitter said: "It's really disheartening that parents' choices are being taken away. I think every mother should have the option to have that [a midwife-led birth].

"It was reassuring we didn't have to travel far. It would be such a shame for other mothers not to have it as well."

Each month, between 10 and 20 babies are born at Crowborough Birthing Centre, and more than 400 in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

Mother-of-one Lucy Humphrey said: "Parents are really disappointed, it will put more stress on Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

"The birthing centre is like a home away from home, I'm still in contact with the midwives here."

Lucy Humphrey was one of the parents at the protest

Heidi Razzell, also a mother-of-two, said: "The care here is exceptional, you feel like a human being and not a number."

Dr John Davies, who worked in the NHS for 40 years, said: "The jewel in the crown is the maternity unit. We have been threatened with this before and we've always fought it off."

Nus Ghani, Conservative MP for Sussex Weald, said the community was "championing the right for women to have a midwifery-led birth".

A spokesperson for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said: "While we know this will be disappointing news for the people who are affected, our priority is to provide safe, high-quality and reliable maternity care for families and we are working with partners across Kent and Sussex to look at how we deliver a long-term, sustainable service.

"We remain committed to ensuring women and birthing people have choice and our services at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Maidstone Birth Centre, both of which offer high-quality midwifery-led care with access to birthing pools, reflect our dedication to personalised care which supports each person's preferences."