by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

Health secretary Andrew Lansley has promised that he will make a decision once and for all on whether women's and children's services should stay at Maidstone Hospital.

Mr Lansley, who paid a whistle-stop visit to the hospital today (Wednesday, November 24), decided to see for himself the maternity unit which could be moved to Pembury, under plans which have been in the pipeline for the last 10 years.

He also met around 30 GPs to hear their views on the moves.

At a brief press conference afterwards, Mr Lansley said: "I wanted to get the balance of views and strength of views. I needed to listen to the people who will have the responsibility in the future for commissioning services. It does help to sit and listen.

"I have now got to get into my head what it is people are actually saying, and not what people have written down on paper."

He added that, after looking at the NHS "engagement" process he had asked for, he did not feel that the proposals by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust had not received support from GPs, and therefore had not satisfied his new criteria, particularly in relation to children's services.

He was not able to give a date for his decision.

He was accompanied by Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant (Con), who has fought hard to oppose the move away from Maidstone.

She said afterwards: "I was delighted that Andrew Lansley came down to Maidstone. I think it was extremely important that he listened to GPs. I am sure the meeting today and the visit will play a part in his final decision."

If approved, the majority of births would be carried out at Pembury, with only a fraction being dealt with at a midwife-led unit in Maidstone. Children's inpatient services would all also move to Pembury from Maidstone, leaving children's care at Maidstone available from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday.

For pictures and full story see this Friday's KM.