Eastbourne Midwifery Unit to remain closed for births

The unit said the decision would impact about four births a week

A midwifery unit in East Sussex will remain closed for births amid ongoing "staffing challenges".

In December, Eastbourne Midwifery Unit (EMU) announced its temporary closure for labour care and births had been extended until the end of January.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said the decision would impact about four births a week.

EMU apologised for the inconvenience but said the decision was made to ensure "safe services" were maintained.

The unit remains open for outpatient antenatal and postnatal services.

In a statement on its website, the trust said it had redeployed staff from the unit into its community midwifery team in order to ensure it was able to continue to provide "safe, high quality home births and maternity care within the community".

'Significant challenge'

EMU said it was continuing to "work hard on both short term and long term solutions" to its staffing issues.

"While we are actively attempting to recruit more midwives into our maternity services at Eastbourne and across East Sussex, the national shortage of trained midwives continues to make this a significant challenge," the statement said.

The trust said the maternity team would be in contact with anyone who could be impacted by this to discuss their options, which includes giving birth at home or at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

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