THREE consultants at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital could stand as candidates in the next general election.

Although it is still more than two years away the three, who have not yet been named, are understood to have expressed an interest in standing for three east Kent seats on a health issue.

The announcement following last weekend's march through Canterbury supporting the fight to save K&C Hospital from cuts.

Ken Rogers, vice-chairman of the campaign group Concern for Health in East Kent (CHEK) - which organised the march - said he believed up to 30 health professionals could stand around the country in the next general election.

In the last election, Dr Richard Taylor stood as the Kidderminster Hospital and Health Concern candidate, winning the Wyre Forest seat in Parliament with a majority of 17,630.

He is Westminster's only independent MP and decided to stand as candidate after Kidderminster Hospital was downgraded in a similar way to that planned for Kent and Canterbury.

Although the three east Kent candidates have not been identifield, high profile campaigners include surgeons Richard Collins and Bob Heddle and retired consultant paediatrician Jim Appleyard.