EXCLUSIVE

The full maternity unit at Maidstone Hospital is to close, it has been confirmed.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley this week gave the go-ahead for maternity services to be centralised at Pembury Hospital.

A midwife-led birthing unit will be opened in Maidstone.

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.

In a letter, 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."

The news 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.”

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 MASH, 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."