Review into treatment centre hours 'concerning'

A review into the possible reduction of hours at an urgent treatment centre has been described by an MP as "deeply concerning".

The Kent & Canterbury Hospital (KCH), in Canterbury, serves a large population in east Kent, but has not had a fully-functional A&E department since 2005.

It was downgraded to an emergency care centre, and then further downgraded in 2016 to an urgent treatment centre (UTC).

There have been calls for an A&E department to return to the busy city, with a petition launched earlier this year attracting almost 9,000 signatures.

However, documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reveal a review is underway by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and East Kent Hospitals Trust – which runs the site – into changing the model at the UTC.

Papers from a board meeting held earlier this year state: "Discussions have commenced with the ICB to review the model at K&C, this is currently operating an Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP)/minor injury dominant model overnight.

"The numbers of attendees are very small and staffing this is both expensive and inconsistent."

Additionally, an email from a member of staff at the hospital stated: "I have been told the potential closure of the KCH UTC overnight service has been under discussion since last year."

The email adds "nothing has been finalised or set in stone" and that there is no "timeframe".

Since the downgrade, emergencies like strokes and heart attacks in Canterbury have been diverted to Ashford or Margate.

The MP for Canterbury Rosie Duffield said she would contact the Secretary of State for Health as a matter of urgency following news of the review.

She said: "Given that history, the fact that the urgent care centre could close overnight is deeply concerning too for our community.

"For a city the size of Canterbury and the surrounding towns and villages that rely on its healthcare services the prospect of having no local urgent care provision is preposterous, as well as dangerous."

East Kent Hospitals Trust has been contacted for comment.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.