A final decision on whether to proceed with changes to stroke services in Kent has been delayed.

Plans to open hyper acute stroke units (HASUs) at Dartford’s Darent Valley Hospital, Maidstone Hospital, and William Harvey Hospital in Ashford are to be scrutinised by councillors again before a verdict is reached.

Stroke review senior officer Rachel Jones said decision-makers from Kent’s clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were originally due to meet on January 13, but extra time will allow the final business case to be assessed.

However, the aim is for the final decision still to be taken in January.

Speaking on Friday, she added: “It (the decision date) would be very dependent on whether this committee either wanted to look at it virtually or face-to-face.

“The usual process is the joint health overview and scrutiny committee would see the final version.

“We are committed (for the CCGs) to meet in January and it would only be if this committee was unable to support that timeline that would have to move it back (further).

“But we wouldn’t want to move it much further back than the end of January. It’s really important we are able to make a decision.”

Chairman Cllr Sue Chandler (Con) confirmed the committee will have to meet in public before submitting its final comments.

Councillors commented on the draft business case at the meeting, with concerns raised about travel times to the nearest HASU to Thanet.

Medway representatives also shared their anger the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham has been overlooked.

HASUs are designed to have expert care in three units across the county to treat patients in the first 72 hours after a stroke.

The new units will be open 24/7 and give patients access to specialist treatment.

Earlier in the day, both Kent County Council and NHS representatives refused to support a Medway councillor-led recommendation which suggested the proposed option was “not in the best interests of Kent and Medway”.