Protesters have gathered in East Kent to oppose the relocation of stroke services from the Kent and Canterbury Hospital to Ashford. The demonstration follows news that the unit was recently named the best in the country.
Campaign group Concerns for Health in East Kent (CHEK) led the rally. They argue that moving the service to William Harvey Hospital will put lives at risk. This protest comes after the Kent and Canterbury (K&C) stroke service achieved the highest possible ‘A’ rating in the latest national audit. This makes it the top-performing service of its kind in England for the most recent reporting period.
NHS bosses plan to centralise stroke care into a new £32 million Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) in Ashford. They maintain that life-saving specialist care must be co-located with an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. The Canterbury site has lacked an A&E since 2005.
‘A matter of life and death’
The primary concern for campaigners is how travel times will increase for patients in eastern areas like Thanet and Herne Bay. Under the new plans, some residents face journeys of over an hour to reach Ashford.
Ken Rogers, chairman of CHEK, told protesters that the rationale for the move rests on business cases from 2019. He claims these are now outdated. He argued that the K&C’s recent success proves a high-quality service can operate effectively without an on-site A&E.
“You cannot use the lack of an emergency department as an excuse anymore,” Mr Rogers said. “This unit has operated for years without one. Now, it has been rated the best in the country. Moving it to Ashford significantly increases the health risks for the people most likely to suffer a stroke.”
A petition to halt the relocation has already gained more than 6,500 signatures. Protesters are calling for a formal pause. They want a fresh assessment of the service before any further planning.
The clinical case for centralisation
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) describe the current arrangement at Canterbury as a temporary measure. During the pandemic, the service moved there from Ashford and Margate to help manage hospital capacity. It has remained at the K&C while the permanent site is developed.
Health leaders insist that a permanent HASU at William Harvey Hospital will provide:
- 24/7 access to specialist consultants and therapists on a single site.
- Faster access to life-saving scans and clot-busting treatments in a dedicated building.
- A purpose-built 54-bed facility designed to meet modern clinical standards.
- Better recruitment of specialist staff by focusing resources in one place.
Dr David Hargroves, the Trust’s clinical lead for stroke, praised the team’s achievement. However, he noted that further improvements are still needed to ensure the service remains sustainable in the long term.
Timeline and delays
The move was originally expected to happen sooner, but the Ashford project has hit setbacks. Recent reports to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee revealed that construction on the new Ashford facility is unlikely to be finished until April 2027.
Several factors caused the delay. These include legal challenges, the impact of the pandemic, and a “gateway review” to ensure the project can be delivered. Planning permission for the two-storey unit at the front of William Harvey Hospital was submitted recently. A decision is expected in the coming months.
Impact on local services
For many in the community, losing the stroke unit feels like a further blow to Canterbury’s medical standing. Campaigners are now urging the government to invest in modernising the Kent and Canterbury site. They would prefer to see its A&E status restored rather than shifting essential services away.
The NHS has assured the public that rehabilitation services will still be provided in local communities after the move. However, for those in the immediate aftermath of a stroke, the “golden hour” remains the focal point of the debate. This is the critical window where rapid treatment makes the most difference.
The Kent Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is expected to review the latest evidence soon. As it stands, the NHS intends to proceed with the Ashford development. This remains part of a wider plan to reconfigure stroke care across the county.
