Mother and father of newborn baby protest to save maternity services

Emma Guerreiro, 33, of St Helen's Road, Hastings, gave birth to baby Anya at the Conquest last Sunday.

She said the maternity unit being full was proof that the service was needed in Hastings.

She and her husband, Sergio, 33, went to the Conquest first but were sent to Eastbourne DGH.

But minutes later the couple were told that hospital's maternity ward was also full.

Sergio said: "We had a choice of going to Brighton or Pembury.

"We went to my wife's mum's house in East Grinstead as she was not ready to give birth yet before going to Pembury hospital."

But Emma said Conquest doctors phoned them as they were on their way to say there was a bed available.

She said: "We decided to go to Hastings but we got stuck outside Lamberhurst because of roadworks.

"My husband rang the hospital to say we were on our way but were told the Conquest was full again.

"I had been in labour for 24 hours by this point.

"We waited for a bed to be available only for around half an hour.

"Staff are not able to cope with both maternity wards running so it is absolutely ludicrous that they (hospital bosses) may be closing one of the wards.

"Being in labour and driving around the county is not funny.

"The staff at the Conquest were great. There needs to be more staff in maternity.

"The Conquest has all the services on its doorstep and Hastings is such a big town.

"It would be madness to downgrade any facility, especially A&E and maternity."