EXCLUSIVE

Babies and mothers will die - that's the warning from Kent hospital users after today's announcement of a key maternity ward closure.

KentOnline revealed Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has given the go-ahead for Maidstone Hospital's unit to close.

It means maternity services are set to be centralised 15 miles away at Pembury Hospital.

On KentOnline's comments section Sarah wrote: "Maidstone is the county town and central to the area it serves. What possible sense can it make to remove the centre point?

"The roads to Pembury - sorry, lanes to Pembury - are not suitable for the traffic it already has. Look at Hermitage Lane in the snow - imagine the lanes to Pembury?

"Stupidity at it's best."

Health bosses now plan to open a midwife-led birthing unit in the town.

In a letter, Health Secretary Mr Lansley said: "Going forward I have asked the local NHS to ensure they continue to engage with all stakeholders as is appropriate [...] as changes to services continue to be implemented at the Pembury Hospital and the midwife led unit at Maidstone is developed.

"I am asking the Strategic Health Authority, Primary Care Trust and NHS Trust to reconsider the level of paediatric input to the A&E and engage with GPs as the future commissioners of services regarding the appropriate level of specialist input.

"This should not prejudice the centralisation of inpatient services as scheduled.

"My conclusion does not prejudice any future decisions made by local commissioners.

"If in future GPs as commissioners assess that a need for services at Maidstone is unmet, then it will be their prerogative to seek to redesign and commission services on that basis."

In response to our story, Aneka commented: "Have those in charge actually looked at the birth rates in Maidstone and looked at the women having babies in the area?

"A lot of people can't drive and are reliant on our terrible public transport system.

"The roads are awful and how accessible is Pembury in the snow and bad weather? Babies and mothers will die."

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust also wanted to reduce the hours for paediatric care at Maidstone Hospital under its reconfiguration plans, but Mr Lansley has asked for that to be reviewed.

He said the availability of specialist care for children should be reviewed by local health agencies and future GP commissioners.

Members of campaign group Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital (MASH), including Helen Grant MP for Maidstone and the Weald, are currently seeking clarification from the Department of Health.

Dennis Fowle, chairman of Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital, said: "I am concerned about the letter from the Secretary of State.

"The news does not look good but it is but we believe it is unclear. We are currently seeking clarification."

But the decision has been welcome by the local NHS Trusts.

Glenn Douglas, chief executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: "These important changes make the very best use of the skills and expertise that exist within our clinical teams for patients and maintain the highest and safest standards of care for women and children throughout the south of West Kent.

"The Secretary of State has agreed the plans should go ahead, and his decision is based on assurances from local and national experts. We can now move forward with clarity and confidence.

"The changes will provide pregnant women in Maidstone with a new range of choices to discuss with their midwives in addition to the existing network of services that includes those at Ashford and Medway.

"Their choices will be well informed, individual to their needs and above all safe.

"There is a strong future for the hospitals in Pembury and Maidstone, which will provide a range of specialist services to complement each other and benefit the local community."

Marion Dinwoodie, chief executive of NHS West Kent, said: "We welcome this decision and can now move forward with implementing the plans.

"We recognise there are still some concerns about the changes, and we are committed to continuing to address these and give local people the confidence they need in their women and children's services.

"We look forward to engaging further with local people as the implementation progresses."

The ruling follows a long-running campaign to keep the Maidstone unit open.

Lib Dem Councillor Peter Carroll launched a group called Full Maternity at Maidstone last September.

It had the backing of retired maternity consultant, Alan Pentecost, who founded the Maidstone Maternity Unit in 1974.

And campaign group MASH also called for the full range of services to stay in Maidstone.

Last year letters were sent to 20,000 women as part of a campaign calling for all maternity services to stay in Maidstone.

And in September hundreds of people gathered at a public meeting to tell health bosses in no uncertain terms they did not want to lose their maternity services.

MP Helen Grant told the meeting in a rousing speech: "Our community has spoken out loud and clear.

"We have no hidden agenda. We are not asking for anything new and we don't want something extra, we simply want to retain our existing services and the maintain genuine choices for our community.

"The evidence against downgrading of our hospital is powerful. These plans are wrong and dangerous and they will lead to fatalities."

Mr Lansley and his predecessor Andy Burnham have also been repeated lobbied.