MATERNITY services have been suspended after a sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in Sussex placed a huge strain on hospitals and ambulances.
The NHS East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group announced yesterday that a decision had been made to "suspend planned homebirths and births at stand-alone midwife led units".
This includes the Eastbourne Midwifery Unit at Eastbourne District General Hospital.
The CCG's announcement came just hours before Boris Johnson confirmed a third national lockdown in England.
A statement from the CCG read: "We are very sorry, but due to the current unprecedented situation with an increase in cases of Covid-19 across Sussex, immediate changes are being made to maternity services to ensure that all births can take place as safely as possible.
"Our local ambulance service is under significant pressure. Whilst they are prioritising urgent 999 calls, including emergency pregnancy issues, the ambulance service will be stretched and response times may be delayed.
"This includes attending home addresses for complications that can arise during home births, and attending for complications that can arise at stand-alone midwife led units where women/people may need to be transferred to another maternity unit.
"This means that giving birth in both of these venues (home births and stand-alone midwife led units) presents a higher degree of risk.
"The safety of births is our priority, so across Sussex the decision has been made to suspend planned homebirths and births at stand-alone midwife led units at this time.
"Our teams are working to ensure that our maternity services are as accommodating as possible.
"There are many ways you can be supported to ensure your birth is a positive experience, as close as possible to the experience you were expecting.
"The home birthing teams and midwife-led unit midwives will be available to continue to provide care if you were planning a home birth or a midwife-led unit birth.
"We are very sorry if these changes cause you distress. Our teams are very happy to talk to you about your birthing plans and how you can be supported in the best possible way."
During a televised address last night, the Prime Minister spoke of the mounting pressure on health services as a result of the rapid spread of a new, more transmissible variant of the disease.
Mr Johnson said: "Our scientists have confirmed this new variant is between 50 and 70 per cent more transmissible. That means you are much, much more likely to catch the virus, and to pass it on.
"As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from Covid than at any time since the start of the pandemic.
"In England alone, the number of Covid patients in hospitals has increased by nearly a third in the last week to almost 27,000, and that number is 40 per cent higher than the first peak in April.
"On December 29, more than 80,000 people tested positive for Covid across the UK - a new record.
"The number of deaths is up by 20 per cent over the last week and will, sadly, rise further. My thoughts are with all of those who have lost loved ones."
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