HEALTH Secretary of State Alan Milburn has said he will not make a decision on the future of Kent and Canterbury Hospital until after a court case later this year.

Now hospital supporters are being urged to dig deep into their pockets to help pay for the legal action.

Campaign group Concern for Health in East Kent (CHEK) has won permission for a judicial review which will look at the way the decision was made to reduce services at the hospital.

Everyone who will be affected by the changes is asked to donate towards the costs of the court case, which will take six days and will be heard in November.

CHEK chairman David Shortt said: "We have successfully passed the first hurdle in our mission to overturn the trust's decision of March 18 but there is a long way to go.

"Our barrister believes we have a strong case but the trust is, of course, determined to defend it vigorously. We are going to have to call on the generosity of everyone in east Kent to help us continue."

Deputy chairman Ken Rogers said the judicial review was something campaigners had wanted since 1998.

"There is really something to fight for now," he added. "This is another reason for donating money to the cause. It is vital that everyone gets involved with this fight. The cost will be massive but we believe we can raise the necessary money."

Mr Milburn has written to CHEK's lawyers saying he won't make a decision on the planned cuts to Kent and Canterbury until after the court case. Mr Rogers said it was hoped to organise a public meeting soon to help co-ordinate fund-raising.