Room for a little optimism at last over hospital

After years of setbacks for the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, it seems there could at last be light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel. Because if the compelling case being made for a medical school by the city’s two universities is successful, it could cement a brighter future for the K&C. The University of Kent and Christ Church University have joined forces to bid for a new pot of government cash to fund medical student places.

Although far from decided, there is now an air of optimism that the tide is turning for the future of healthcare in east Kent.

And, frankly, it can’t come fast enough as A&E waiting times are widely condemned as unacceptable and in crisis.

Meanwhile, the health authority’s sustainability and transformation plan, which many fear could lead to the further downgrading of the K&C, rumbles on behind the scenes.

But you get the sense that the goalposts are moving with these exciting new opportunities and health chiefs might have to go back to the drawing board.

The prospect of a new medical school alongside a new hospital being offered by a developer on the K&C site is understandably getting health campaigners fired up.

They will soon have the opportunity of meeting health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who will no doubt receive an earbashing.

There are still many hurdles to cross and it won’t happen in a hurry, but what a boost it would be for Canterbury if both proposals come together as hoped.