Update on maternity provision during Covid-19
We have made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend the homebirth service and births at Eastbourne Midwifery Unit (EMU) to ensure a safe service for women and babies during the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead, all deliveries will take place in the obstetric unit at Conquest Hospital, Hastings.
A key factor in this decision is that the ambulance service is under considerable pressure and cannot guarantee a timely response to calls for transfer to the maternity unit in an emergency from a homebirth or the EMU. This would present an unacceptable risk to mothers and their babies.
All of our midwives are skilled and experienced in natural birth provision. Conquest Hospital has a water birth room and birth rooms designed for promoting natural births. Conquest hospital obstetric unit has its own dedicated entrance to ensure that mothers do not have to go through the main hospital.
This is temporary suspension is in place from Monday 30th March, and is likely to last for at least 12 weeks but will be reviewed at the earliest opportunity.
We care for women and their babies, during pregnancy, labour, birth and up until one month after birth.
Our midwives provide midwifery-led care in a number of settings, including local General Practitioner (GP) surgeries, children’s centres and within our hospitals at:
A home birth service is available dependent upon an individual assessment and neonatal services at Conquest Hospital.
Over 6,000 outpatient appointments take place each year within the department and our hospitals are teaching hospitals so we involve students with all aspects of care.
Your experience of pregnancy and birth really matters to us, and we will do all we can to provide the best possible care for you, your partner and your baby, within the hospital, community and home settings.
We are committed to personalised care and will try to meet your wishes so far as it is safely possible.
These pages provide general information about our services and include video tours of Conquest Hospital Maternity Unit and Eastbourne Midwifery Unit which guide you through your pregnancy journey.