Health chiefs have been summoned to appear before councillors in the wake of chaos at Medway Maritime Hospital’s A&E department over Christmas.

They are demanding to know whether the hospital, where about £200 million has been spent on improvements, can cope with the demands on it.

Recent stories have included:

•The death of Rainham dad Stewart Fleming, who was made to wait eight hours in A&E before he was fully assessed, despite having a letter from his GP saying he should be admitted immediately.

•Other patients waiting up to seven hours to be seen in A&E.

•Ambulances queuing at the entrance to the hospital.

• Car parks full and drivers waiting in prohibited parking areas while their passengers sought treatment.

Councillors now have a statutory responsibility for investigating health issues.

Three health bosses have been "invited to respond to questions," according to council papers.

They are: Andrew Horne, chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust (the hospital), Marion Dinwoodie, chief executive of NHS Medway (the primary care trust) and Paul Sutton, chief executive of the South East Coast Ambulance Trust.

Councillors plan to discuss the high demands hitting the hospital and find out what is being done to stop it happening again.

They are also concerned that children's hospital care is maintained. There have been reports that some children's medical services have been moved to free up ward space.

The health bosses will be asked what risk assessments have been done by the hospital, why were ambulances not routinely diverted to Maidstone during the peak pre-Christmas crush, and what strategy Medway Maritime Hospital has in place to cope with peak demand.

The report to the committee says there were insufficient beds to meet demand at the time Mr Fleming was waiting to be seen.