by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

Campaigners will be hoping a crunch meeting tonight will help show how vital it is to keep key hospital services in Maidstone.

The KCC meeting, being held at Mote Hall at Maidstone leisure centre tonight, is likely to see all the main players in the fight to keep women's and children's services at Maidstone Hospital giving their views.

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust plans to move maternity services to the new Pembury Hospital when it opens next year, along with all in-patient children's services.

A small midwifery unit for a handful of births will continue on a site away from Maidstone Hospital.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is due to give a final decision about whether the reconfiguration can go ahead at the end of this month, but he has already said the plans must have the support of local GPs.

Members of campaign group MASH, which includes Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant (Con) will be among those attending, along with representatives of NHS West Kent, which is leading an assessment into local people's views, requested by Mr Lansley.

There is expected to be a good turnout. The meeting is from 7.15pm and 9.45pm and all are welcome.

Read tomorrow's Kent Messenger for the full reaction to the decision.