4 October, 2018
The NHS is holding eight public events to discuss potential options for changing hospital and local care services in east Kent. At these events, between 30 October and 20 November, doctors and other NHS leaders will discuss with local people:
- the benefits change could bring
- how services outside hospitals are developing to maximise the care people get locally
- how the two options for hospital services might affect people across east Kent
- the next steps towards public consultation.
Caroline Selkirk, Managing Director of the four NHS clinical commissioning groups in east Kent*, said: “This is the next step in conversations we’ve been having with staff, patients and the public over recent years about why change is needed to health and care services in east Kent and how services could be improved.
“We have done a great deal to respond to what people in east Kent have told us they need, such as access to more appointments with GPs and nurses, including in the evening and at weekends; joining up care for people with the most complex conditions; and starting to hold more outpatient clinics in local communities.
“We have also been looking in depth at two potential options to improve hospital services in east Kent.
“These informal meetings with local communities ahead of any formal consultation next year are a chance for local people and organisations representing patients to hear more about our work so far and to help us understand the potential impact of the options we are currently looking at.
“We want to continue to gather a range of insights on the latest phase of our work. These views will be considered by the joint committee of east Kent Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), before it decides whether both options for changes to hospital services go forward for public consultation.”
If you cannot make it to the events, there will be more information about the proposals added to this website shortly and an online survey will be open from mid-October.
You can register for one of the events online at http://kentandmedwaynhs.eventbrite.com/ Alternatively, you can email info.eastkent@nhs.net or call 01622 211940 to reserve a place.
| DATE | VENUE | CCG AREA |
| Tuesday 30 October 6.00pm registration 6.15pm – 9.15pm | Institute Hall, Herne Street, Herne CT6 7HE | Canterbury and Coastal |
| Wednesday 31 October 9.30am registration 9.45am – 12.45pm | Club Room, Elwick Club, Church Road, Ashford TN23 1RD | Ashford |
| Tuesday 6 November 6.15pm registration 6.30pm – 9.30pm | Upper Suite, Sports Pavilion, South Road, Hythe CT21 6AR | South Kent Coast |
| Wednesday 7 November 9.30am registration 9.45am – 12.45pm | County Room, The Abode, 30 – 33 High Street, Canterbury CT1 2RX | Canterbury and Coastal |
| Tuesday 13 November 6.15pm registration 6.30pm – 9.30pm | Ravenscliffe Suite, Pegwell Bay Hotel, 81 Pegwell Road, Ramsgate CT11 0NJ | Thanet |
| Thursday 15 November 9.30am registration 9.45am – 12.45pm | Grand Marquee, Ramada Hotel (Dover), Singledge Lane, Whitfield, Dover CT16 3EL | South Kent Coast |
| Thursday 15 November 6.15pm registration 6.30pm – 9.30pm | Holiday Inn (Ashford Central), Canterbury Road, Kennington, Ashford TN24 8QQ | Ashford |
| Tuesday 20 November 9.30am registration 9.45am – 12.45pm | The Lido, Ethelbert Terrace, Margate CT9 1RX | Thanet |
The content at each event will be fundamentally the same, although discussions will focus on the potential impact of the options on people in the area where the event is being held.
* The four clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in east Kent are NHS Ashford Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS Canterbury and Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS South Kent Coast Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group.
