Maidstone Loses Consultant Led Maternity
22 December 2010, 17:07 | Updated: 22 December 2010, 17:15
The Secretary of State for Health has given further backing to the plans to revamp women and children’s services in south west Kent.
This is the Statement from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust & NHS West Kent
The Secretary of State for Health has given further backing to the plans to revamp women and children’s services in south west Kent.
Andrew Lansley wrote to the local NHS today (22 December 2010) agreeing the work to centralise consultant-led maternity services and inpatient paediatric services at the new Pembury hospital should go ahead.
The endorsement came after the Secretary of State considered a report from NHS South East Coast which he requested in July. The Secretary of State also sought a wide range of views on the plans, including visiting the Maidstone services and meeting with West Kent GPs last month.
Work can now begin on implementing these changes, which will greatly improve the quality of care for women and children across the south of West Kent. The local NHS understands, however, that a number of local people still have concerns about the changes, and NHS West Kent and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust will continue to address these concerns by engaging with those affected by the changes. This engagement will continue up to and beyond the opening of the new Pembury hospital in September 2011, with the next event taking place on 17 January.
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.”
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.”
For more details about the changes visit Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s website and click on the changes to women and children’s services section.
We welcome views or questions from anyone with an interest - you can do this via the website, by emailing Twohospitalsonefuture@nhs.net or calling 01622 225859.