A HEALTH minister has backed recommendations from an independent review on the future of hospital services in east Kent.

The plans will include a 24-hour local emergency centre for Kent and Canterbury Hospital, with two major trauma centres at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

Review panel members endorsed an interim plan the East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust had drawn up earlier this year and said that should form the basis of future services.

It also said the expensive Private Finance Initiative process, which was suspended while the panel conducted its review, should now be abandoned.

In announcing his decision the health minister John Hutton said he was allocating a one-off payment of £17 million to help east Kent overcome its exceptional circumstances and develop long-term plans.