Plans are under way for a series of consultations to decide the best range of services to be provided at Deal Hospital.

With big changes now in place in the new-look NHS, the patient and public discussions will take place to discuss local healthcare needs.

Fears that services could be halved at the London Road hospital have already been voiced at a public meeting in Deal Town Hall, in the wake of a £21 million rebuild of Buckland Hospital, Dover, due for completion next year.

A leaked email to the Mercury stated that “the downside of the new Dover hospital would be the effect on Deal Hospital.”

The latest update comes from the clinical chairman of NHS South Kent Coast Clinical Commissioning Group Dr Darren Cocker.

He said: “GP members of the CCG in Deal are working to agree the range of services that need to be provided in Victoria Hospital, Deal, in the future, and which the CCG will then commission.

“There are no changes planned to existing services other than the East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust-run outpatient clinics.

“When the new Buckland Hospital is built in Dover (autumn 2014) EKHUFT intend to move the outpatient clinics held in Deal, which they run, to be part of the ‘one-stop’ service. This is to be provided from the purpose-built new hospital facility in Dover.

“Given this, local Deal GPs are working with public health specialists to assess the healthcare needs of people living in Deal –and the surrounding area – and develop options for the provision of more local services in the future.

“Patient and public engagement events will be planned for the early autumn this year to discuss local healthcare needs, and the best range of services that could be provided in Victoria Hospital in the future”.

n Mercury Comment – page 2; Help the Friends of Deal Hospital – page 5.