Birth unit could stay closed until late April

The midwife-led birth unit first closed temporarily in December

An Eastbourne midwifery unit could remain shut for births until late April.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said it had started a review so a new staffing model at Eastbourne District General Hospital could be developed.

The trust said it aimed to complete the work so births could be resumed by the end of April.

The unit was first shut to births because of staffing challenges in December, and the closure was extended twice.

Currently other options for mothers include giving birth at home or at Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

A trust spokesperson said: "The current suspension is just the latest over recent months and underlines the challenge around recruiting trained midwives due to the national shortage."

The suspension impacted about three births a week, the trust added.

Despite the temporary closure, the unit remains open throughout for outpatient antenatal and postnatal services.

The trust said it had redeployed staff from the Eastbourne midwifery unit into its community midwifery team so that "safe maternity care within the community" continued to be provided.