MEDWAY Maritime Hospital at Gillingham wants £6 million to meet demand and avoid a crisis in the next four years.

Chief executive of the Medway NHS Trust Andrew Horne said the hospital will be unable to cope with 20 per cent growth in patient numbers over the next four years without improvements.

The bid for Government money is part of an £11 million diagnostic and treatment centre covering both Medway and Dartford and Gravesend hospitals. Plans for Medway include 56 extra beds, an extension to the Sunderland day care unit and two new operating theatres.

Medway would also work in close conjunction with Dartford to maximise effectiveness and reduce waiting times.

Mr Horne said: "We are seeing an increase in the number of patients using the hospital every year, mainly due to the increase in the over 75s population. We need to do something about it or within three or four years we will have a crisis.

"The Government is aware of the situation and we have submitted a bid for funding. We want to be able to cope with the increased demand while continuing to cut down on waiting times and improving service."Ó