Health service bosses should debate the future of Deal Hospital in public, especially as rumours suggest outpatient services could be moved elsewhere.

That is the message from the Friends of Deal Hospital, whose members believe any such changes would be wrong.

Maureen Bane, president of the group and former manager of the hospital, said: "We are not panicking. We have been told the hospital is not closing, but are calling for any proposals to be brought out into the open for debate.

"Deal loves its hospital and we want to find out what is happening. The Friends of Deal Hospital have been corresponding with both the Community Trust and EKHUT requesting answers to our concerns regarding withdrawal of outpatient services at Deal Hospital. To date we have not received satisfactory answers.

"We are alarmed that there has been no communication or debate about this. The Community Trust denied the rumours of the closure of Deal Hospital but no mention of the withdrawal of services from the hospital which is equally alarming."

Mrs Bane worked at the hospital for more than 40 years, 15 of them as manager. She was made MBE for her services and retired in 2005. She said a high percentage of elderly and young families would find travelling to other hospitals time consuming and costly.

* For full story see the East Kent Mercury, October 4, which details how to write to the hospital trust.