Stephen Lloyd MP

It has been discovered that proposals are soon to be announced whereby a number of core services at either the DGH or the Conquest will be downgraded or removed altogether.

These include the option of Maternity being downgraded with one site becoming a midwife-lead unit and one continuing to be consultant-led. These are similar changes that the Trust Managers attempted a few years ago before being over-ruled by the then Secretary of State, following the recommendations of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, along with massive town-wide public protest.

However, now it is not just Maternity under threat but also Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, A & E, and even Stroke provision are being targeted. Proposals include Emergency and Elective Surgery being reduced to one site while General Surgery, current separate emergency and elective sites will be reduced to low risk cases only, with no overnight stays. In addition, in Emergency Care, only one site is to be maintained as a Trauma unit with the other site downgraded.

Stephen Lloyd MP said: "These are horrifying proposals and were they to be implemented, I greatly fear for the long term sustainability of DGH. It is absolutely essential the Trust management take no rash decisions to introduce the proposals without going through the full consultation process. I appreciate there are serious financial considerations for the Hospital Trust but the sheer depth and breadth of the proposed closures and downgrades of our core services are totally unacceptable.

He added: "I will be raising these issues with the Health Minister, and am prepared to fight the plans wholeheartedly. Meanwhile, I'm asking the town to rally around once more. Our strength has been our unity of resolve; across community, across all the political parties and across the whole of Eastbourne. We must join together once again to fight for the future of our local hospital."

Liz Walke, Chair of the SavetheDGH campaign group said: "The DGH is full to bursting at the moment and very busy but still manages to give good quality care despite pressures. What message does this give to staff as thanks for working under such pressure? They certainly don't want this. Yet the senior managers think they can save money by shutting all of one site (except for medical patients) or stop all out of hours. This must be wrong. We also see that once again they are trying to downgrade Maternity to a midwife-led unit and also take away all in-patient paediatric beds. How dare they! Nothing significant has changed since 2008, when we successfully stopped their plans, apart from the money which Management say is not the driving factor. The Board and their hugely expensive management consultants are bogged down with paper and process and still can't get it right. That's where money should be saved. They should be concentrating on providing the right services to their local population. If they can't do it, and it looks like that's what they're admitting, then let other people manage who have the will and determination to keep core services at our hospital."

She added: "We believe it can be done. There are smaller hospitals around the country that are managing successfully - we demand it be done here. With public support, the SavetheDGH Campaign Group will fight these proposals and do everything we can to keep our hospital and its services. We are already booked in to have a walking float at the Carnival and we will be organising other events to stop these outrageous recommendations coming into being!"

The family of a teenager killed by a cannabis user have been given confirmation this week by the Queen at the state opening of Parliament that new drug-driving legislation will be implemented later this year. Under current legislation, police need to prove a drug has caused impairment to driving. However, the new drug-driving legislation will make it an automatic offence to drive in England and Wales over set limits of specified drugs. Offenders will face up to six months in jail and fine of up to £5,000, as well as an automatic driving ban of at least 12 months.

Stephen Lloyd MP chaired the Work and Pensions Select Committee in Westminster this week. The Committee, which examines the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its associated public bodies, met this week to hear evidence from senior European civil servants about EU Pensions Policy.

Haven School visited Eastbourne MP, Stephen Lloyd, in Westminster this week to see how a Member of Parliament works and explore the history of the institution.

Stephen, who met with the students after their tour to answer questions ranging from "what work do you do?" to "how much would you sell Parliament for?" said: "It was great to welcome the young students and their teachers to the House. I have been very determined since I was elected in encouraging all our schools across Eastbourne and Willingdon to send their students up every year. Educating children about our democratic system is, in my opinion, absolutely essential. As is emphasising to them, which I always do, that I work for their parents!"

Stephen Lloyd MP has expressed his delight at new figures which show an incredible 2,050 people have started an apprenticeship in East Sussex between August 2011 and January 2012.

The figures come on top of record numbers of apprentices in the area last year. Aided by the Coalition Government's 'Regional Growth Fund', which has already given £2.4 billion to regions across England to invest in new and existing businesses, the rise in apprenticeships highlights the Coalition's strategy to tackle youth unemployment and rebalance the economy.

Posing his question during Prime Ministers Questions last Wednesday, Stephen highlighted the actions of individuals who simply give to charity in order to receive a reduced tax bill.Eastbourne's MP, Stephen Lloyd, has quizzed David Cameron over recent reports which indicate that some of the richest in the UK only donate to charity in order to gain tax benefits.

The Chatsworth Estate have announced they will not be proceeding with the development of King's Drive. However, they have also declared that they now intend to sell the site, and will be advertising the sale with immediate effect.

Stephen Lloyd MP said: "I am extremely glad the Chatsworth Estate have decided not to build on the Kings Drive site. I made strong representations to the Duke in person, making it very clear, that both the residents of Eastbourne and I, are strongly opposed to any development. However, their intention to sell the site means we are not on dry land just yet. I will have no hesitation, on behalf of local residents, in making it equally crystal clear to other interested parties of our opposition to any development in the strongest possible terms."

Stephen Lloyd MP has contacted local secondary schools this week to encourage them to register for the Inspiring the Future programme; an innovative new scheme which aims to give young people the opportunity to meet leading working professionals whilst at school.

Backed by the main national teacher organisations and employer bodies, Inspiring the Future plans to get tens of thousands of professionals from a range of sectors to voluntarily go into state schools and colleges, and talk about their successful careers and the routes they took.

Stephen Lloyd MP is lending his support to Vocational Qualification Day. The annual celebration, now in its fifth year, celebrates the millions of people achieving vocational qualifications every year who would otherwise go unnoticed.

Held on Wednesday 20^th June, the occasion will be marked by events held at colleges, schools, businesses and learning providers across the UK, including award ceremonies and open days. These events hope to identify the value of vocational achievement, which provides young people with access to high quality technical, practical and vocational courses that offer genuine job prospects. Last year, over 300 schools, colleges and work-based providers got involved in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.