Health chiefs say they have drafted in more emergency doctors and plan to expand A&E wards at crisis hit hospitals.

Patients have reported long waiting hours at both the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford and the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Margate as staff struggle to cope with the high demand.

New figures released by NHS England reveal that the East Kent NHS Trust (EKHUFT) was one of the worst performing in the country, as just 62% of patients in A&E were seen within the four hour target last month.

Now trust bosses say they are taking steps to relieve the pressure, including the appointment of 10 more emergency doctors, and opening up more ward space.

It follows the downgrading last summer of the emergency care centre at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital (K&C), which they say has led to an extra 20 to 26 patients being taken to Ashford and Margate each day instead.

Trust chief executive Matthew Kershaw said: “While critically ill patients are prioritised and treated quickly, waiting in an emergency department for a long time is not the standard we want for any of our patient.

“We carefully monitor our services to ensure that patients are receiving safe standards of care, but having to wait for a long time in A&E can be uncomfortable and worrying, and isn’t a good experience.”

He said the hospital has successfully bid for £800,000 to make the departments at Ashford and Margate bigger and more fit for purpose, while also trying to see if other departments and wards can treat patients with less serious conditions to ease pressure.

Mr Kershaw said: “Staff are working extremely hard to care for patients but it is challenging, as we need to cover vacant posts with temporary staff.

"We have recruited ten emergency doctors who are due to start with us in the next two months, and we are recruiting to nursing posts.

“While we are confident this will help, we will still need more staff and we will need to make further improvements. It will take some time for us to reach the national four-hour standard, but we are making this a priority.”

Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke commented: “It’s essential the Trust’s senior management get a grip on this situation.

“It’s unacceptable that patients are being let down.

“I’m writing to the trust to demand guarantees of patient safety and asking what is their plan to resolve the situation is not only now but also for the difficult Christmas period and into the future.

“I’m also seeking urgent discussions with the chair and chief executive of the Trust for assurances on these matters.”