Q: When will these changes happen?

A: Women's and children's services: Three months of public consultation will start later this month. Trust chiefs say it will take up to five years to put plans in place. Changes will coincide with opening of new Pembury Hospital in 2010.

Elective orthopaedic and orthopaedic trauma: A discussion document setting out issues the trust is facing and offering possible solutions launches this month. Firm set of proposals will be consulted on for a further three months early in the New Year. The split site plan separating routine from emergency care could happen as soon as 2006.

Q. How could these changes affect me?

A. If you are a mum choosing to have a caeserean birth or experiencing a difficult pregnancy you may still receive day care at Maidstone but your baby will be born in Pembury.

Children needing to stay overnight in hospital will again be transferred or referred to a new specialist unit at the Pembury Hospital site.

If you are involved in a road accident or suffer a serious fall, your bone injuries will NOT be fixed at Maidstone, if clinicians preferred choice to transfer trauma operations to Tunbridge Wells is approved.

Q. How many babies were born at Maidstone Hospital last year compared to Pembury?

A. There were 2,600 at Maidstone, 2,300 at Pembury

Q. How many people from Tunbridge Wells are expected to be transferred to Maidstone for routine orthopaedic surgery compared to emergency trauma operations?

1,147 elective orthopaedic operations and 1,483 trauma orthopaedic operations were carried out at Maidstone in 2003. Twelve to 15 elective orthopaedic patients will go to Maidstone each week for their pre-booked operations if the proposed split site plan is approved.

Q. How many mums are likely to have their babies born in Maidstone from 2010?

A.One in five mums will be able to give birth at the proposed new birthing centre. Approximately 500 per year.

Q. The original plans to move specialist services for women's and children's services was opposed by obstetricians in 2000. Why have they changed their minds?

A. Trust chiefs claim staff now accept change is necessary to provide a full range of modern day services and cutting edge practices in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells. Existing units have faced severe staff shortages.

Q. Why can't emergency trauma operations be at Maidstone and routine elective care be based instead at Tunbridge Wells?

A. Locating the proposed specialist orthopaedic trauma unit at Maidstone would be unfair on people from North East Sussex who have no alternative acute hospital care. Patients in Maidstone and south west Kent have access to two other trauma centres at Medway and Ashford.