Two ambulance transport drivers suspended after they left a voicemail on a patient's phone talking about beating him with a fire extinguisher have been sacked.

G4S staff called the patient, who wishes to remain anonymous, last month to tell him they were 10 minutes from picking him up from his Sheppey home for an MRI scan at Ashford's William Harvey Hospital.

Once explaining they would be a short while the staff members did not end the recording properly before talking about unhooking a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, should he start being violent.

After complaining to the transport service, a full investigation was launched.

The patient received a letter from the firm's general manager, Tom Maidman, this week explaining the employees had been sacked following an investigation.

He said: "I would like to express how deeply sorry I am that you have been subjected to such an incident and what you experienced is inexcusable.

"As soon as G4S was made aware of this incident, a full investigation commenced.

"I would like to assure you we have taken this matter extremely seriously and implemented the disciplinary processes swiftly in line with our values of zero tolerance attitudes.

"I would like to emphasise that the behaviours the individuals displayed were not in line with the company's core values and standards and do not reflect the rest of the hard working staff employed by G4S.

"The type of behaviour displayed on the day in question will not be tolerated in any part of our business.

"I can confirm that the individuals involved are no longer employed by the company."

'I would like to assure you we have taken this matter extremely seriously...' - Tom Maidman

He added that all future journeys will be monitored by a member of management staff.

Reacting to the outcome of the investigation, the patient said he still feels anxious about using G4S patient transport.

He added that if people experience this sort of abuse they should reach out and seek help from someone.

Read more: All the latest news from Sheerness.

Keep up-to-date with developments on transport and stories that will impact how you travel.

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here.