Robert Hall on the Health Secretary's overruling of the closure plans

Mr Dobson has asked the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority to reconsider the future of a maternity unit also threatened with the axe.

Cornwall residents have been waiting six months for a final decision on the facilities.

The closures would have meant the loss of 300 jobs and more than a 100 community care beds.

Radio 5Live explains the decision to stop the closures

Mr Dobson said on Thursday that his reasons for deciding to keep the hospitals open was that the proposals were "not the right answer".

"Cornwall is unique as it is a very large area and communications are not good," he said.

"There are a large number of small and medium-sized communities. Travelling is difficult. There are a lot of badly off people in Cornwall."

He added that because of its geographical position, people were unable to cross county borders to access other health services.

Extra funds

The hospitals saved are: St Barnabas Hospital at Saltash, Fowey Hospital, Poltair Hospital near Penzance and Edward Hain Hospital in St Ives.

Frank Dobson: the closure proposal was 'not the right answer'

The Penrice Maternity Unit at St Austell has also won a temporary reprieve after Mr Dobson order a review of the closure plan.

Mr Dobson said he had agreed �2m of a �4m cuts proposal made by the health authority.

He said extra funds to cover the money lost by keeping the hospitals open could be forthcoming.

Cornwall has just been granted Health Action Zone status and funding for this will be announced shortly.

Mr Dobson said this would ensure social services and health worked closer together. And the introduction of NHS Direct to Cornwall would also improve health care, he said.

Primary care trusts

The Health Secretary urged GPs and community nurses to work closely with Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust and Trecare NHS Trust.

This could lead to primary care groups taking over the running of community hospitals in the area and becoming primary care trusts.

Mr Dobson said there could be extra money for them if they did this. He added that he did not want to allocate blame for the decision, but to concentrate on the future.

Deficit

Richard Lingham, chief executive of the health authority, who was appointed just six weeks ago, welcomed Mr Dobson's announcement.

Richard Lingham: 'we know where we stand'

He said the health authority was already in discussion with doctors and nurses about how to move forward.

But he added that it would still have to look to cover the �2m deficit. It is waiting to see what Cornwall's allocation will be from the recent comprehensive spending review. It should know in October.

"This is a very clear statement and we know where we stand and what our next step should be," said Mr Lingham.

Andrew George on public relief about the hospital decision

The local community health council welcomed the decision, but said Cornwall needed an effective health strategy for the future.

St Ives MP Andrew George said there was "great relief" among the public, but also sadness that it had taken so long to take a decision.