DELIGHTED campaigners are celebrating after being told that plans to cut services at Kent and Canterbury Hospital will be examined by an independent panel.

It has raised hopes that the hospital's accident & emergency unit - due to go under the plans - could be saved after all.

The surprise news came when health minister Hazel Blears told Canterbury MP Julian Brazier that the final decision on the controversial hospital re-organisation would be made in the interests of all the residents of East Kent.

For that reason, among others, the Secretary of State Alan Milburn has decided to refer the whole issue to the newly created independent reconfiguration panel, Ms Blears said.

The announcement came during an adjournment debate in the Commons attended by members of campaign group Concern for Health in East Kent (CHEK).

Afterwards David Shortt, CHEK chairman, said: "It is tremendous news and vindicates all our hard campaigning over the years."

Mr Brazier, who gave an impassioned defence of the hospital, said it was a significant breakthrough in the fight to save it.