Hi There, As some of you may be aware, our lovely MP's have decided that it would be better to move all Maternity services from Maidstone to Pembury, leaving now only a nurse let unit at Maidstone Hospital, which if a mother falls into difficulty, which some do, myself included, leaves them a 40 minute journey by Ambulance up country roads to Pembury. I know my outcome may have been different if this had been the case and possibly 2 friends may have lost their lives as they hemorrhaged. This action alone is going to cost the lives of mothers and babies and this is unacceptable! However, it also seems that its not just this they are closing and moving to Pembury, it turns out they are moving all child services to Pembury, thus closing Monkton Ward at Maidstone Hopital. This ward and service is vital to the surrounding community of Maidstone and now leaves people very vulnerable. To give you an idea, the new hospital at Pembury has 24 beds, Monkton has this alone!!! My son was admitted into there recently with suspected meningitis and the team of selfless doctors and nurses who helped make my son better was simply amazing. Thankfully it turned out he had full blown chickenpox but they took nothing to chance and for that I am truly thankful. I felt totally helpless while this ordeal went on and now I am home, I want to help. I simply cannot sit back and not do anything, therefore I am starting this petition. A paper one was started but it was stopped by the paper pushers!!! This one is online so should be a little more difficult for them to do such a thing. If you are a parent you can imagine how scary it would be going into hospital for such a thing with your child. Now imagine you have a 40 minute journey to another hospital up dark lanes...in the possible snow!! We cannot let this happen, therefore please, get everyone you know to sign this. Its a huge ask but if we get to 100,000 then it will get referred to parliament, where they have to review it. We as the people must fight for what we believe in and for what we need and we need this service to stay in Maidstone!! thank you, Erin