The Eastbourne Midwifery Unit (EMU) will re-open on Monday 6th July following a temporary closure while the Trust responded to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Emma Chambers, Assistant Director of Midwifery said: “We are thrilled to be able to announce that Eastbourne Midwifery Unit (EMU) will be reopening for births at 8.00am on Monday 6th July. While we had a great deal of positive feedback from women who moved their birth to Conquest Hospital, we are very excited to be able to welcome women back to have their babies at EMU and to attend their antenatal and postnatal appointments. This, along with the reinstatement of homebirths in East Sussex, means that women will once again have the full range of birthing options in East Sussex.
“We are taking appropriate precautions to keep women, their families and our members of staff safe and our midwives will be in touch to talk to families about the changes we have made and what actions they might need to take.
“We would like to thank everyone for their support and understanding during the temporary suspension.”
More and more women are choosing to give birth at the midwife-led unit – around 300 families each year. Recent feedback from national and local maternity surveys highlights that the birthing experience at EMU is a positive one.
Any family planning for a birth at EMU or a home birth will need to complete a risk assessment with their midwife to make sure that it is the right option for them.