HEALTH campaigners are hoping supporters will pack the Westgate Hall, Canterbury, next week for a meeting on the future of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. It has been called by the East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust and takes place on Thursday, February 21, from 7pm-9pm

People will be able to ask questions and comment on the four trust options for the hospital's future. John Warnett, the BBC Radio Kent presenter, will chair the meeting.

A trust spokesman said he had been chosen because he was completely independent and was greatly interested in the modernisation of hospital services in east Kent.

David Astley, chief executive of the trust, will attend, along with Liz Cracknell, its PFI project director, Dr Noel Padley, medical director, consultants Philip Ball and Marie Beckett and Christine Sidwell, trust nursing director.

Meanwhile, health campaigners are organising another march in London to protest at downgrading plans for Kent and Canterbury Hospital. It will take place on Monday, March 25, and coaches will take supporters there from the Canterbury area.

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Fred Whitemore, is writing to all the civic heads in east Kent asking them to back the campaign to keep vital services at the hospital. Campaigner Ken Rogers said: "We want to bring to the attention of politicians and health bosses our unhappiness about what is going on with hospital services in east Kent."

Campaigners will take their petition with them and will march to Westminster Hall and the Department of Health.