A bailout of nearly £30 million was given to the NHS in Maidstone to keep its hospitals running.

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust was given £28.3 million by the NHS Commissioning Group, which buys health services across the county, on top of its £367 million budget.

And a further £20 million boost is expected this year.

The money, described by auditors as additional support, was to cover the running costs of the Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury. Built through a private finance initiative (PFI) the building is worth £228 million.

But PFI is similar to a mortgage, with interest added. So over 30 years of monthly repayments the NHS will have shelled out £612 million to developers Laing O’Rourke.

Many of the cash problems stem from a reduction in how much money central government pays per patient and per procedure, which changed after the new Pembury hospital was built.

Finance director John Headley said: “While we have financial support now, our challenge is to stand unaided by ensuring our services are more efficient.”