Seen as a viable option

real strain and is not meeting national quality standards”.

In August A&E departments in east Kent buckled under the pressure as waiting times in the area were the worst in the country, with close to 200 patients a day waiting more than four hours to be seen in A&ES at Ashford and Margate.

Health bosses are also considering an alternative reorganisation of the three east Kent hospitals to improve services, which is still widely considered the most viable option.

It would see the William Harvey hosting all specialist services in east Kent and becoming a major emergency centre with a 24/7 A&E department.

The QEQM would be the second emergency hospital with 24/7 A&E, and the K&C would be a 24/7 Gp-led urgent treatment centre.

One of the two emergency hospitals would also be the hub for stroke trauma, vascular and specialist heart services, which needed to be centralised to ensure medical professionals had a breadth of experience to maintain their expertise.

East Kent Hospitals’ medical director, Dr Paul Stevens, said: “There have been huge medical advances over the last 30 years. We treat patients very differently now, with specialist teams looking after people with specific conditions such as kidney disease and heart conditions.

“This has led to much more effective treatment and people are living longer, with a better quality of life.

“But the NHS in east Kent is still set up to work the way it did 30 years ago. We know we can care for patients better by doing things differently.

“These proposals aim to provide the best, most effective, hospital care when people need it, with greater support at home and in the community for people who no longer need hospital treatment.”