QEQM protest by Save Our NHS in Kent to fight against closures at Margate hospital
16:50, 01 August 2019
updated: 14:33, 03 August 2019
A lively protest is expected to be held fighting against proposals which threaten services at Thanet's hospital.
Campaigners are being urged to join hands in support of the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) hospital in Margate on Saturday morning.
The "emergency event" due to be held outside the hospital has been called to demonstrate against threats to vital units, including the hospital's stroke unit and further changes being discussed by the NHS.
A reshuffle of hospitals in east Kent could see the QEQM lose its accident and emergency unit with proposals to develop a super hospital in Canterbury or expanding in Margate and Ashford.
The NHS has outlined two options with A&E departments either being located in Ashford and Margate or reducing services at those two site in favour of developing a large hospital in Canterbury - which would house east Kent's only A&E unit.
Thanet district councillor Candy Gregory, who is a registered nurse, is calling on people to unite to fight the changes and stand up for the services to stay in Thanet.
The protest is being organised by campaign group Sonik (Save Our NHS in Kent) who say residents across Kent cannot afford to see services downgraded.
Carly Jeffrey, from Sonik, said: "WEQM is Thanet’s only hospital. Not only is our stroke unit under threat but we also risk the closure or downgrading of our accident and emergency and maternity units. We have to protest against any attempt to take these services from us.
"Saturday’s event is an expression of Thanet’s community solidarity, and we have received great support from all parts of the county.”
"The whole SONIK campaign has been a magnificent triumph for community campaigning. It is entirely independent of all political parties, drawing on activists of all colours and none. We all need our NHS, want to see it survive and prosper and we will fight for it with all our strength.
"NHS bosses claim that their plans to rationalise services in Kent will result in better treatment overall, but SONIK’s analysis shows this not to be the case.
"They are cutting services because they want fewer hospitals to manage — and parts of Kent like Thanet are being told to pay the price."
Sonik is continuing to fight the decision to close three of the six stroke units in Kent with a judicial review against the decision made earlier this year.
- The protest will kick off at 11am on Saturday, August 3 outside the Ramsgate Road entrance
