Darent Valley Hospital could face a staffing shortage because of Brexit.

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust’s chief executive, Susan Acott, said that the country’s impending departure from the European Union was making it more difficult to employ nurses from the continent.

Not only that, but the future of EU nationals already working at the hospital, of which there are about 300, has also been made uncertain.

Ms Acott said: “The trust relies on a diverse workforce, domestically, from Europe and across the globe.

“They are valued members of our hospital community and we could not function without them.

“The demand for qualified nurses remains high and we have previously recruited internationally from countries such as Portugal and the Philippines.

“Brexit has given some of our European and international staff a sense of uncertainty and anxiety about the future.

“We aren’t able to recruit enough registered nurses locally and until the future becomes clearer, we anticipate that it will become harder to recruit staff from abroad.

“We are committed to supporting all of our staff through these challenging times and will continue to welcome new recruits into the organisation regardless of nationality.”

She said that the scale of growth in Dartford and Gravesham was “unique” and that the vast house building programme — spearheaded by Ebbsfleet Garden City — “must be supported by a proportional increase in local health provision”.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson is a firm backer of leaving the EU and was recently appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to David Davis, the man charged with negotiating Britain’s exit.

Last month Kent Online reported on fears that north Kent’s population boom was outstripping funding, with Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Clinical Commissioning Group facing a £17 million deficit.

The organisation, which is separate from Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and commissions services including mental health and emergency care for 258,000 people, is reporting a 1% annual increase to its grant from NHS England, compared to a 26% rise in population over the next decade.

It means the CCG could face a £42 million deficit by 2021.

On Monday night Dartford councillors unanimously passed a motion to put pressure on NHS England and the health secretary to provide greater funding for the CCG.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens has told the council that funding can be “reconsidered” if population growth exceeds projections.

Council leader Cllr Jeremy Kite said: “Dartford must get proper settlement and what’s due to us as a community.”