More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Scores of campaigners joined a protest to fight against proposals which threaten services at Thanet's hospital.
More than 100 people gathered outside the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Margate this morning to demonstrate against threats to services.
These include the hospital's stroke unit, as well as further changes being discussed by the NHS.
The protest had been organised in response to proposals to reshuffle hospitals in east Kent.
The shake-up could see the hospital lose its accident and emergency unit with proposals to develop a super hospital in Canterbury which would house east Kent's only A&E department.
The second option would see the QEQM retain its A&E and maternity units under NHS proposals to expand the Margate site and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.
Campaign group Sonik (Save Our NHS in Kent) organised the demonstration, which started at 11am at the Ramsgate Road entrance.
Norman Thomas, from Sonik, said: "We have just finished the protest and it went really well.
"We marched from the hospital and in to Margate.
"We had lots of speakers who spoke about the challenges of trying to save the stroke unit and people singing to fight against the closure.
"I think we got the message across. Lots of people showed their support and members of the public beeped their horns to cheer us on.
"We still hope to save the QEQM - the whole hospital is under threat."
