Thousands more emergency and maternity patients could be rushed through the doors at a Kent hospital under plans to close units in a neighbouring town.

Bosses are gearing up for the influx into Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford from Queen Mary’s Hospital, in Sidcup.

This could see an extra 7,000 casualty cases and 1,000 more expectant mums pack into wards each year.

But while they insist staff can cope, others have raised concerns the increased numbers could jeopardise patient care and push up waiting times.

Queen Mary’s A&E and maternity departments had already been earmarked for closure under the previous government’s review of health services in south east London – A Picture of Health.

The new coalition government has put the closure on hold pending a review of A Picture of Health next spring, but South London Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Queen Mary’s, says it cannot wait any longer.

It claims staff shortages and a rising vacancy rate, largely caused by the uncertainty over the hospital’s future, are putting patients at risk, and would create even more of a strain during the winter.

A spokesman at Darent Valley Hospital said: “The effect of these proposals will come at our busiest time of year, so we can expect this to be a particularly challenging winter.”

For the full story see this week's Dartford Messenger, out Thursday.