East Sussex County Councillors have agreed a budget for 2019/20 which will see £375 million spent on services in East Sussex.

The budget includes savings of just over £5 million to keep spending within the limits set by long-term reductions in financial support to East Sussex and the county’s growing needs.

Councillors also agreed a 2.99% increase in council tax – about 80 pence a week for a typical household.

East Sussex County Council has already reduced its spending by £130 million since the start of the decade, yet continues to provide high-quality services, including children’s social care rated ‘outstanding’ and social care praised by inspectors for the way it is being joined up with health services. Read more on the East Sussex County Council website.

Have you received outstanding care? You can now nominate a member of staff or team at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust who has provided outstanding care to you, a close friend or relative, for a People’s Choice Award.

The People’s Choice Award gives patients and the public the chance to say ‘thank you’ and publicly recognise members of staff who have provided exceptional care and treatment. The award will be presented that the Trust’s Annual award ceremony in July and nominations close on 31^st March 2019.

Find out how to make a nomination.

The Maternity service at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT) is the first in the Sussex and Surrey region to successfully launch a new community maternity team and deliver their first baby in line with the recommendations from The National Maternity Review: Better Births Report.

The team is called ‘The Coastal Team’, and comprises of eight midwives who care for women in the Eastbourne area who plan to give birth at the Eastbourne Midwifery Unit (EMU).

Read how the team are supporting mothers and their families.

Young people in East Sussex have taken their seats on a body representing their peers on the issues that affect them.

A total of 21 young people aged between 11 and 18 have been elected or co-opted to serve for one year on the East Sussex Youth Cabinet, each representing their school, college or youth group.

They will campaign on the top three issues chosen by young people in the Make Your Mark ballot held in November – knife crime, mental health and homelessness.

A brand-new weaning hub has been launched on the Start4Life website to help parents during their weaning journey.

Packed with NHS-approved advice and tips for each weaning stage, plus simple, healthy weaning recipes for different age groups, it puts everything parents need to know in one place.

It also includes new videos showing the signs that indicate babies are ready to wean, how much food to give, and weaning tips from other parents. 

Learn more about the Hub.