The ongoing battle to save Margate's stroke unit will continue with another protest on Saturday.

Save our NHS in Kent campaigners are calling for people to join a rally outside the QEQM Hospital to fight the plans, which will see the services moved to Ashford's William Harvey Hospital.

They say demonstrations have worked in other areas such as Southend, where the accident and emergency service was saved.

A spokesman for Sonik said: "Sonik is protesting against the decision that will deprive QEQM of our stroke service.

"This is an appalling decision. Clinical commissioners are saying that having three stroke units in Kent will be safer than the present arrangement - but this is based on no good evidence.

"This is a dangerous experiment on the people of Kent which will inevitably lead to the unnecessary loss of life.

"We will continue to fight on."

Last month, the 'preferred options' for a £40 million shake up of stroke services across Kent were revealed following a public consultation.

It will see just three specialist stroke units serving Kent - at Dartford's Darent Valley Hospital, Maidstone Hospital and the William Harvey.

A final decision on implementing the changes is expected in December or January, but Sonik says there is still time to reverse the proposal.

The spokesman added: "If this decision is followed through, people in Thanet will have to travel way over the recommended time for stroke sufferers with potentially deadly consequences.

"And taking away stroke services is likely to be just the beginning of a process of downgrading Margate's QEQM Hospital.

"NHS commissioners are showing total contempt for the health of people in Thanet."

"Please tell all your neighbours, colleagues and family and urge them to come along and stand with us to show that Thanet is against the loss of crucial emergency stroke care.

"They protested in huge numbers in Southend to stop their A&E closure and it worked, so we must do the same. Join us.

"NHS bosses reckon the final decision will not be taken until December or January.

"That means we must and will do all we can to get the powers that be to change their minds.

"We must protest, protest and protest.

"This battle is not over yet. We have to fight on until we win."

The protest will be held from midday on Saturday, October 6 at the Ramsgate Road entrance of the QEQM Hospital.