News

A public meeting has been called by Shepway Liberal Democrats to give local people an opportunity to protest about the possible selling off of the Victorian parts of the Royal Victoria Hospital. 

It will be held on Tuesday 9 January 2007 at 7.00pm in St Johns Church, St Johns Church Road in Folkestone.

The meeting will be chaired by leader of the Lib Dems on Shepway District Council, Lynne Beaumont, who is also the councillor for Park ward in which the hospital is sited.

George Jenkins, the Chair of the East Kent Hospital NHS Trust, Ann Sutton, Chair of the Primary Care Trust, Janet Andrews, Mayor of Folkestone and MP Michael Howard have been invited to attend and speak.

The East Kent Hospitals NHS Hospitals trust announced it is considering selling off the Victorian part of the hospital for redevelopment in a press statement issued just before Christmas.

Cllr Lynne Beaumont said: "Local people are outraged at this possibility. Only a two years ago the last 'in-patient' wards were closed in the face of strong local opposition. People were disappointed but we were given assurances that the hospital was safe. There are over 40 types of health care provision at this site and local people have said in no uncertain terms that they want these services delivered locally, not in Ashford or Dover."

It has been announced that the campaign has secured a pledge from the East Kent Hospital Trust that most key will continue to be available in Folkestone, but the meeting will go ahead as planned.