A health authority has defended its action in not sending out a press release about a public meeting after this week's newspapers had been published.

People in Dover and Deal are being asked for their views on plans for their healthcare in the future.

The meeting is due to take place on Wednesday, but details were not sent out until yesterday evening, after this week's newspapers had been published.

Mercury chief reporter Graham Tutthill criticised the health authority for giving such short notice, if they really wanted people to have their say.

South Kent Coast Clinical Commissioning Group - which is preparing to take over the commissioning of healthcare for the Dover district from April 2013 - is holding the event on Wednesday, March 7, to share its plans.

"They really should have sent the press release earlier this week for yesterday's papers so that more people would know about it," said Graham "Not everyone has access to the internet to see the story on our website. I have suggested they might consider re-scheduling the meeting."

Jo Treharne, communications and citizen engagement manager at NHS Kent and Medway, said: "I am sorry that the press release was sent too late for this week’s edition. However the good news is that we have publicised this event through our other networks, as well as sending over 1,600 direct letters to patients, voluntary sector groups, councillors and individuals.

"We have also posted on Twitter and Facebook, including a direct post to the Mercury’s Facebook page on February 20.

"We are very pleased that this work has resulted in an excellent response and as of this morning we have more than 100 people booked in to attend the Dover event. We expect that numbers to rise early next week."

The event is at The Ark, Noah’s Ark Road, Dover, on Wednesday from 9.30am for tea, coffee and registration for a 10am start. The meeting will finish at 12.30pm.