CAMPAIGNERS CALL PUBLIC TO MEETING

Health campaigners fear that, with the imminent loss of emergency services at the K&C, the downgrading of the hospital is already underway.

They are holding a public meeting next week and a protest march on June 17, and have sought legal advice over the actions of the health trust pre-consultation.

Last week, Dr David Hargroves, the trust’s lead stroke specialist, was quoted as saying “not everything can be at your local hospital” when discussing the “temporary” transfer of stroke services out of the K&C.

Ken Rogers, pictured, the chairman of Concern for Health in East Kent, said: “This is a clear indication to me that he believes this move and others to be permanent and it has already been decided, preconsultation. That’s illegal and we are taking advice.

“I am sure we have the backing from the public to pursue this through the courts if necessary.”

Trust spokesman Steven James says hospital chiefs welcome the invitation to explain their plans to the public at the meeting on Saturday, April 29.

He said: “We are looking at a long-term model of care which makes the best use of all of our hospitals and need local people to help us to get this right, which is why there will be no changes to the way we deliver services for the long-term without a public consultation.

“We are working with Health Education England and other NHS organisations to ensure the transfer of junior doctors is safe and carefully planned and have collectively agreed to work to the date Monday, June 19.

“We need to temporarily combine a limited number of services at the Kent and Canterbury with those at our hospitals at Ashford and Margate while we work on a sustainable solution.”

The public meeting will take place at the Canterbury Academy at 7pm on Friday, April 29.