More than 500 people packed a public meeting held to discuss controversial proposals to cut hospital maternity services.
Plans drawn up by health chiefs could lead to consultant-led maternity services being lost at either Eastbourne District General Hospital (DGH) or the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards, with a midwife-led one at the other.
A special care baby unit and inpatient gynaecology service will be based at the hospital that has the full maternity service.
The proposals have been drawn up by Eastbourne Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Hastings and Rother PCT and a 15- week consultation is under way.
The meeting at the Winter Garden in Eastbourne, on Tuesday, was one of several organised by the PCTs over the coming weeks to discuss the four options being considered.
The audience was made up of Save the DGH supporters and Hands off the Conquest campaigners as well as doctors, consultants, midwives, nurses, local councillors and Eastbourne MP Nigel Waterson.
The campaigners want full consultant services at both hospitals. The next meeting is on May 8 at Beacon Community College, Crowborough, from 7pm.
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