An online petition to keep accident and emergency services at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital (QEQM) has gained over 2,000 signatures.

Talks of a potential move for all East Kent services to Canterbury came to light last week when a report to hospital directors suggested there is a pressing financial and clinical need to reorganise the emergency services.

Campaigner Nina Grantham started the petition two days ago.

On the petition she said: “There are talks about potentially closing the accident and emergency unit at the QEQM hospital in Margate.

“This will mean the 140,000 residents of Thanet will have to travel to Canterbury to use the nearest facilities.

“Our hospital has slowly been stripped back and soon we won’t have a hospital at all.

“The hospitals in surrounding areas are already under enough strain without having to accommodate for the whole of Thanet as well.”

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust is due to start a public consultation into the restructuring as early as September.

If a new hospital in Canterbury was built the QEQM would most likely be reclassified as an urgent care centre.

Anyone interested can find the petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-qeqm-accident-and-emergency-department.html.