Campaigners who quizzed health bosses for two hours have come away with answers about the future of Maidstone’s health services.

The Maidstone Action for Services in Hospital Group - MASH- met Glenn Douglas, chief executive of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and Steve Phoenix, chief executive of NHS West Kent.

From next May, emergency and orthopaedic surgery will be performed at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, Tunbridge Wells, before moving to the new Pembury Hospital, when it is built in three years.

It is a decision which has attracted widespread opposition.

Mr Douglas told campaigners: "It is a misnomer that everyone will automatically go to Tunbridge Wells and Pembury.

"If you are very seriously ill, your life will be saved at the moment the ambulance picks you up.

"You will then be taken to the nearest appropriate A&E unit, which for Maidstone people could be Ashford, Medway or Dartford.

"But you will not be ignored if you turn up at Maidstone A&E with a surgical problem. It will still have a 24-hour A&E service."

Mr Douglas added one of the ideas he wants to introduce is a mini-bus service between Maidstone Hospital and the new Pembury Hospital catering for non-emergency patients and their visitors.

MASH campaigners were also told the trust does not plan to change a decision to concentrate women’s and children’s services, including high-risk obstetrics, at the new Pembury Hospital.

Once that happens, all that will be left in Maidstone - and not necessarily at the hospital - will be a low-risk birthing unit.

Mr Douglas said: "While a midwife-led birthing unit could be provided at the hospital it would not be integral to the hospital.

"It could be in the grounds, but would need to be in a separate building so people did not have the illusion they were in hospital, with consultants on hand.

"We are not changing the decision but we hope to engage with the public on elements of it."

Cllr Eric Hotson (Con), chairman of MASH, said: "The meeting was very helpful and it sends a message to the trust we want them to be transparent."