A dad campaigning to get a dialysis unit at Sheppey Community Hospital says he is frustrated things have not moved forward in eight months.

Kevin Edwards, of Harps Avenue, Minster, is calling for the equipment after being diagnosed with kidney disease.

At the moment, he and fellow sufferers have to go to other hospitals off the Island for treatment, which is funded by the NHS and can cost as much as £500 a day.

The 50-year-old launched a petition which has more than 1,000 signatures, but he says he is disappointed at the lack of reaction he has received from NHS England and the Swale Clinical Commissioning Group (SCCG).

UKIP’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Ian Davison, is backing Mr Edwards’ campaign as he believes it would improve the quality of life for patients as well as saving the NHS money to have the service at the hospital in Plover Road, Minster.

His colleague, Cllr Lee Burgess, is waiting for a response to a Freedom of Information request for statistics to support the campaign.

Mr Davison said: “I’m not happy with the amount of time it’s taken to get any formal response from those at the hospital or SCCG.

“It’s unacceptable this waste has been going on for so long and shows no sign of stopping, at a time of budget restraints and greater public demand for better care.”

It is also a campaign MP
Gordon Henderson has been supporting, and he says he has had a number of meetings with various organisations and is waiting for an appointment with the person who manages and commissions renal services for the South East.

He said the situation is ongoing and he is still campaigning, but added that it is not something that is going to happen immediately as the logistics are complicated.

Mr Edwards said: “I think it’s terrible.

“It’s money being wasted every week, which is crazy.

“I saw three ambulances picking up people to go to three different hospitals the other week.

“I feel very frustrated that everyone [NHS England and SCCG] is aware of the petition and no one has asked for it.”

A spokesman for SCCG said comments raised at public meetings have been passed on to NHS England.