by Graham Tutthill

gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke says he is disgusted, appalled and "incandescent with anger" after discovering that the town's new community hospital is not even near the planning application stage yet.

Mr Elphicke had a meeting with East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Stuart Bain on Friday and said he was "very angry" to find that they were not now expecting to submit a planning application before September next year.

"They promised before Christmas they would put in the planning application by April, and get on with building it," he said.

"Now they are talking about September 2012. Why are they dithering and delaying?

"They say it’s because of the maternity services review in Kent which will affect what is needed in Dover.

"There’s always this review or that review. We need to get on with it.

"They should be ashamed of their total lack of commitment. It’s another inexcusable delay, the sort we have seen over the last 20 years. I am very, very concerned that Dover has not had and does not get its fair share of health care.

"I have taken this up with ministers and hammered home just how angry people are and how much this facility is needed."

Mr Bain told the Mercury he was confident detailed design work would begin "in the near future".

"However, it would be difficult to press on with the planned build, costing around £20million of tax payers’ money, without making absolutely sure that the GP commissioning groups are happy that our plans meet their needs," he said.

"The trust board is still committed to replacing Buckland Hospital with a fit-for-purpose healthcare facility for Dover."

See this week's Dover Mercury for the full story.

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