Trades Unionists say "Hands off Eastbourne DGH"


We believe in our NHS ! We support our local NHS Hospital !

In 2008, plans to scrap consultant-led Maternity Services at Eastbourne's District General Hospital were defeated- the Secretary of State blocked the plans after a massive cross-party and community based campaign in the town.   Sadly, the management of the Eastbourne and Hastings hospital trust seem determined to have a second attempt. In December 2012 a decision was upheld to transfer emergency orthopaedic surgery and emergency general surgery to Hastings. Acute stroke services have been closed at Hastings and relocated to Eastbourne only.

Recently consultant-led maternity services been "temporarily" relocated to Hastings. While the management claim that this is a genuinely "temporary" measure, the plans look remarkably similar to the service closures that were defeated in 2008.

Only three days after the "temporary" downgrade, an Eastbourne woman gave birth in the back of her car, while on the way from Sovereign Harbour to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings ! 

As trade unionists, we are proud of our NHS and think it is worth fighting for !  We demand that the people of Eastbourne and Hastings should have "core" services at both hospital sites- and the pledge to return a full consultant-led maternity service to Eastbourne must be honoured.

We are proud to work alongside other campaigners in Eastbourne from all parties and organisations who are committed to defending our NHS.

LOCAL  PROUD TRADE UNIONISTS SUPPORTERS INCLUDE (all in a personal capacity)

Val Thomas (NASUWT- Chair of Eastbourne Trades Council), Dave Brinson (NUT National Executive and Secretary of Eastbourne Trades Council,  Gordon Dyer (Branch Secretary- Unite the Union SE/6258 and treasurer of Eastbourne Trades Council  )   Lee Comfort (Unite the Union and EC of Eastbourne Trades Council ), Bill Avis and Jim Gotobed (Unite the Union), Ian Culshaw (Retired T&G/Unite), Gerry Stonestreet (retired BIFU/Unite)   Ian Thomas (NASUWT East Sussex County Secretary Union and EC of Eastbourne Trades Council),  Gary Palmer (GMB Organiser),  Anastasia Raoux and Paul Wilkinson (GMB- Union Learning Reps),  Mike Barrett (GMB Representative- Brighton Buses)   Jane Clare, Helen O'Brien, Angela Ashe, Julie Christy (GMB)  Phil Clarke (NUT Lewes, Eastbourne and Wealden Secretary)  Paul Shellard (NUT Brighton and Hove Secretary) ,  Adrian Lane (NUT Rep, Sussex Downs College) Ben McLachlan, Jacqueline Hewes, Cheryl Tabone, Katharine Hamblin, Mari Booker, Jake Lambert, Paul Lennon, Lou Hayton, Becca Phillips, Jane Mills  (NUT),  Patricia Brinson (NUT and Unite),  Nadia Edmond (Secretary- UCU University of Brighton)  Gill Lipson and Dave Baker (University and College Union) David Fellows (Unison Convenor for East Sussex Schools),  Paul Bartholomew (Unison Rep, Ratton School) John Devlin, Alan Battram  (Unison reps)  Laurel Marks, Erika Adler,  Helen Tunnicliffe, Marie Skinner, Bill Ball  (Unison) Derek Hansford (CWU) , Natasha Steel (Treasurer, Brighton and Sussex NUJ),   Paul Richards (NUJ), Lucette Davies (NUJ)  Glen Cooper (Prospect)  Dennis Scard (former General Secretary, Musicians Union)  AND MANY MORE......

ADD YOUR NAME to the list of local trade unionists supporting the campaign for a return to consultant-led maternity at Eastbourne DGH by clicking here.

Supported by the Eastbourne Trades Council- and many individual local trade unionists.

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