The new hyper acute stroke units will improve treatment, according to a spokesman from the Stroke Association.

Health bosses revealed their £40million plan to reshape stroke services in Kent and Medway, reducing the number of hospitals offering the care from six to three.

Tara Galloway, head of stroke support for the south east and the Stroke Assoication said the charity support the changes and have been proven to provide a better service.

She said: “This system has been introduced in Manchester, London and Sussex and has proven to reduce the number of deaths from as early as the first quarter.

“We’ve had feedback from stroke survivors who have been frustrated at not being able to get appointments at weekend

“The hyper acute units will mean you will get better service in the first instances, whether it’s at 9pm on a Saturday night or 5am on a Monday morning.

“I have sat on Kent and Medway board meetings to make sure they were doing this with stroke survivors in mind.

“They’ve come to out groups and found out what is needed and we have made sure everything has been done with the patients at the heart of it.”

People who have strokes need to be given thrombolysis – a drug that removes blood clots - with in the first four and a half hours of stroke symptoms starting.

When asked how having fewer units will affect treatment, Ms Galloway said: “The ambulance service were involved from the start so they know what unit people will need to be taken to.

“It might mean more blue lighting someone to hospital but it will be smoother once they get there.

“There won’t be the same delays waiting to get assessed and use the scanners or waiting for thrombolysis nurses to administer the drug.

“They might be able to bypass the emergency department and go straight to the unit where the right equipment and staff are ready to treat them.

“It might take an extra 20,30,40 minutes to get there but they won’t be waiting around in those first crucial hours.”

A meeting will be held on January 31 between 1pm and 4pm in the Council Chamber at County Hall in Maidstone.

The public can sit in on the meeting and might have an opportunity to ask some questions.

To reserve your place at the meeting please register to book on https://strokejcccg.eventbrite.co.uk or call the Joint Committee admin office on 01892 638331.