Cllr Jenny Whittle with her 17-month-old daughter Katie

A mother who was diverted from Maidstone Hospital to Pembury in labour has raised questions over plans to put emergency care at just one of them.

Jenny Whittle says she felt anxious and nervous when in the final stages of labour she was told her nearest hospital, Maidstone, was full and she would have to travel to Pembury to give birth.

It's an experience that could be the norm for mums from 2012.

From 2012, only midwives will remain at a birthing unit in Maidstone, while the full range of medical professionals will be based at Pembury.

Cllr Whittle who has just been elected to Kent County Council as a Conservative councillor, gave birth to daughter Katie 17 months ago.

Her labour lasted three days. During the first two, her contractions were too far apart to justify admission, so after phoning Maidstone Hospital she was told to stay at home.

When she called back, on day three, she was told she would need to go to Pembury Hospital as the department was full.

Cllr Whittle, of Sutton Street, Bearsted, now intends asking questions about the future of maternity services in Maidstone.

Any births where complications are predicted, such as the need for a Caesarean section, will take place at Pembury.

Only births which proceed without complications will be handled at Maidstone.

If someone starts giving birth at Maidstone and complications develop, they will be transferred to Pembury.

Also asking questions about the plans is MASH (Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital), which is campaigning to preserve services at Maidstone.

Cllr Whittle said: "I was lucky that my husband sped me over to Pembury. It wasn't rush hour and I had a normal labour, but I was still anxious.

"What happens if a woman starts giving birth at a Maidstone Hospital birthing unit and complications develop?

"I know two women from my ante-natal class who were predicted normal labours, then complications developed and the doctors were needed instantly, not after a 30-40 minute drive.

"You just don't know what will happen in labour; things like pre-eclampsia can go undiagnosed.

"Women who are giving birth want the full range of qualified medical opinion nearby.

Cllr Whittle will raise the matter at KCC health overview and scrutiny committee.

Frank Sims, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust's corporate development director, predicts most women, when given the choice, will automatically opt for Pembury if they are at all worried.

Addressing the MASH campaign group he added: "The trust sees 2,500 deliveries a year and we predict 300 will remain in Maidstone. All ante- and post-natal care will also be at Maidstone."