Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘It seems obvious the William Harvey will be the preferred choice’
It is 20 years to the week that the K&C lost its A&E department, sparking a huge campaign and a 20,000-strong protest.
That was followed in April 2012 by the decision to close the birthing unit in Canterbury, which was clouded in controversy after bosses were accused of ignoring the results of a public consultation.
Ken Rogers is a lead governor of the Kent Community Health Trust and former member of Concern for Healthcare in East Kent (Chek), which led the campaign against the closure of K&C’S A&E department.
He says he has been expecting for some years that the hospital will be further downscaled because it would otherwise need huge investment.
He said: “From what the trust is now proposing, it seems obvious that the William Harvey at Ashford will be the preferred choice for the specialist centre and I can see the advantages of that system in offering the best care. It’s a pity because Canterbury is best located to be the major centre, but we were told many years ago that it would cost £100 million and the trust couldn’t afford it. I think there will be a lot of upset if there is a declining role for the K&C because it has a special place in many people’s hearts.
“But the old building is just a money pit to maintain and I wouldn’t be surprised, if there were so few services at Canterbury, if it were to be demolished to make way for housing.”
Chek secretary Peggy Pryer said: “I don’t believe they haven’t yet got a pretty good idea of where the super site will be.
“In fact, I heard on the grapevine that they had already got government approval for Ashford and that just elective general surgery and orthopaedics would happen at Canterbury.
“But I can’t see us resurrecting Chek to fight the idea of having one hospital where all the specialist teams are, because I can see the logic in that.
“It could mean a reduced role for the K&C, but I think serious consideration needs to be given to an infrastructure which helps patients get to hospital.”