The boss of Medway Maritime Hospital has warned vital services could be cut if a proposed merger with another hospital fails.

Chief executive Mark Devlin, pictured, told residents last night he faced being seen as “the Berlusconi of Kent” if the hospital trust did not merge with Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust.

Hospital bosses want to save £30 million in the first three years by sharing some services between Medway’s hospital and Darent Valley, Dartford.

Several back-office jobs would be lost but core services including maternity, A&E, children’s and outpatient clinics would be maintained at both sites.

About 70 people attended a public meeting arranged by community group Medway LINk at the King Charles Hotel, Gillingham, where Mr Devlin admitted reducing the hospital’s budget was “quite hard going at the moment.”

The hospital has been reducing its £215 million budget by 6.5% a year, and now has £20 million of backlogged maintenance work. It will consult for six months and hopes to complete the move next summer.

Keith Clear, spokesman for the Medway Parents and Carers Forum, feared that Medway residents could lose out if new services begin in Dartford.

He said: “You have got to think of a parent who’s got two youngsters with autism, travelling on public transport for perhaps three hours.”

Mr Devlin said: “This is not about losing specialist services. It is actually about creating them.”

Full story in the Medway Messenger, out Monday.

There will be a meeting on Wednesday, November 23, to discuss the local effects of the government’s Health and Social Care Bill. It will be at Rochester’s Corn Exchange from 9.30am to 3.30pm. For more information call Fiona Gaylor on 01634 335173.