Transfer of Crowborough Birthing Centre gets green light
The transfer of the management of maternity services in the High Weald area from East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust was yesterday given the go-ahead.
Final agreement to transfer the management of the service, which includes Crowborough Birthing Centre, was made at yesterday’s East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Board meeting and follows agreement from the Board of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust last month.
The two Trusts have been working closely to prepare for the transfer since the autumn and are working towards a transfer date of 1st April 2016.
The transfer will mean a more seamless maternity service for women in the High Weald area, and follows feedback to the Better Beginnings consultation in 2014 when local people said they would support the transfer of the service.
Pregnant women in the High Weald area will receive information about the transfer, but they should not notice any interruption in the service provided and do not need to take any action as a result of this transfer.
Richard Sunley, Acting Chief Executive of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “After listening to what local people were telling us during the Better Beginnings consultation, I am pleased that the organisations involved have been able to reach agreement and are now able to give people what they told us they wanted from their local maternity services.”
Glenn Douglas, Chief Executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: “We look forward to providing women in in the High Weald area with the widest possible range of maternity services and choices, including the excellent Crowborough Birthing Centre, and seeing many more women benefit from this facility in the future.”
Dr David Roche, Governing Body member of High Weald Lewes Havens CCG added: “The transfer of Crowborough Birthing Centre supports High Weald Lewes Havens CCG’s on-going commitment to improving local maternity services for women in the High Weald. The transfer will enable delivery of a clinically-agreed model which reflects optimum maternity care, by implementing a seamless service for women in High Weald.”
