A GOVERNMENT minister says she is impressed with the work being carried out at the children's centre at a Kent hospital.

Beverley Hughes, the Minister for Children, Young People and Families, was at the centre at Canterbury's Kent and Canterbury Hospital on Tuesday where she was shown around by consultant paediatricians Dr Neil Martin and Dr Yvonne Parks and by acting trust chief executive Rupert Egginton.

Ms Hughes spoke to staff, parents and children and afterwards praised the work and care she had seen.

She said: "I should like to see more local authorities and primary care trusts go in this direction.

"A centre like this meets the child's whole needs and community based care, especially for children, is the way we should be going."

* See the Kentish Gazette (Thursday, May 17) for the full story.