CONSULTATION on potentially contentious changes to health services across Kent and Medway will be delayed for several months, health chiefs have announced.

The public consultation on the outcome of a review that may lead to a wide-ranging re-organisation of services across the county was due to begin at the end of this month,

But the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority, which is conducting the review under the government’s Fit For The Future strategy, has confirmed it is delaying consultation. Although it did not say for how long, it is possible the three-month period of consultation may not now start until May.

One reason for the delay is that any political discussion among local councils about possible changes to services in their area would have been prohibited in the run-up to elections in May.

But health bosses have also admitted their original timetable was "premature".

They also acknowledged the three primary care trusts were not ready for their role in managing the consultation process.

In a statement, Rebecca Sparks, the health authority’s director of the Fit For the Future, said the decision was prompted by two main reasons. "We want to ensure there has been the greatest possible discussion with and involvement of local people before any consultation starts and to ensure the three Primary Care Trusts are fully prepared for consultation, because they will be responsible for carrying it out," she said.

But she added: "Crucially, we do not yet have any proposals for people to consider, so consultation may not even be necessary."

The decision comes after pressure from Kent County Council’s cross-party NHS Scrutiny Committee, which has a statutory right to refer any proposals to the Secretary of State for Health.

Committee joint chairman and county councillor Alan Chell (Con) said: "There has been an awful rush to get this review done and originally the consultation was going to happen in November. This delay is welcome as it will give people a proper opportunity to make their views known."

Fellow committee chairman Cllr Dan Daley (Lib Dem), also a county councillor, said the health authority was in disarray. "If you want an open, honest and transparent consultation process, you cannot possibly hope to do it in the run up to an election when some of these decisions may be highly-politically charged."

The Fit For The Future review is examining if certain services now provided in hospitals can be moved out nearer to where people live."

That has sparked concerns that the review could lead to downgrading services at some hospitals, including ward closures, to save money.