Health bosses have dismissed national news reports that drunk patients are to be turned away from Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Stories in yesterday’s press suggested the hospital in Canterbury will “close its doors” to patients who are intoxicated.

The trust admits paramedics treating alcohol-related cases are to be directed to either William Harvey Hospital in Ashford or QEQM in Margate where a spell in hospital is needed.

But a spokesman said: “We never turn patients away and all patients who come to us for treatment will continue to receive the care they need as they always have done.”

Kent and Canterbury Hospital has an emergency care centre to treat acute cases such as patients who have suffered a heart attack or stroke.

While many regard this as "an A&E by another name", the trust says the accident and emergency departments at the other two hospitals are better equipped to deal with drunk patients.

Paramedics treating “acute abdominal pain, alcohol intoxication and patients with primary mental health problems” will now be redirected.

The spokesman said: “Over time, Kent and Canterbury’s emergency care centre has been seeing more and more patients whose healthcare needs would be better met by A&E services.

“At the same time junior doctor training has become increasingly specialised meaning that it is no longer acceptable for medical trainees without A&E training to be asked to manage the broader range of medical and surgical emergencies.

“For patients who present themselves, we will support them clinically and will work with HealthWatch and our partners to inform the public on how best to access the most appropriate healthcare service for their needs going forward.”

Canterbury’s emergency care centre was formed 15 years ago for treatment of minor injuries and illnesses.

General surgical emergencies were catered for at the A&Es in Ashford and William Harvey.

However, Canterbury continued to accept medical emergencies such as chest pain, pneumonia and breathing difficulties.

It is now felt that staff at the emergency care centre are over-stretched and under-equipped to deal with ‘non medical’ patients such as people who have drunk too much.

“The Trust is now working closely with the South East Coast Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust to ensure patients with acute abdominal pain, alcohol intoxication and patients with primary mental health problems are taken to one of our A&E departments as should always have happened,” said the spokesman.

“This amounts to nine patients per week who will be taken to either the William Harvey Hospital or the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital by ambulance to provide immediate access to the care setting they require.”

The spokesman was adamant however that patients will never be turned away.

“For patients who present themselves, we will support them clinically and will work with HealthWatch and our partners to inform the public on how best to access the most appropriate healthcare service for their needs going forward,” he said.