Sir Roger Gale has backed calls for a hyper-acute stroke unit at the QEQM Hospital following fears Thanet will lose out as part of an overhaul of the service in Kent.

Health chiefs want to concentrate all stroke services at just three hospitals in the county, which would host the specialist centres.

But the QEQM is not one of the five sites being considered among five different options, which all have Ashford's William Harvey covering east Kent.

The results of a public consultation on the proposals reveal people in Thanet fear Ashford is too far to travel in a stroke emergency.

It has prompted North Thanet MP Sir Roger to support calls for a fourth hyper-acute stroke unit (HASU) at the QEQM.

He expressed his views in a letter to campaign group Save Our NHS in Kent (Sonik).

It reads: "Now that we have before us the results of the stroke consultation report - which I have studied with care - I hope that we can agree that there is very considerable, if not overwhelming concern, that the needs of east Kent are not properly met by the Partnership's proposals (the three-centre solution) and that in fact, a fourth centre is necessary - if the plan is to work at all - in Thanet at the QEQM Hospital.

"I hope that very serious consideration will now be given to the real public concern that has been expressed about these proposals."

Sonik has welcomed Sir Roger's support.

A spokesman for the group said: "Sonik has been battling against a consultation process that left no option for services to be sited in the east of Kent.

"We have collected almost 10,000 signatures on postcards and petitions calling for a fourth HASU in Kent.

"We welcome all those that are coming forward and saying there is no case for closing the service at QEQM.

"Sonik will carry on with its campaign to defend and improve all NHS services in Kent and Medway."

A preferred option for the location of the stroke units is expected to be announced in the autumn, with a final decision on implementation made at the end of the year by NHS England and NHS Improvement, and the Joint Committee of CCGs.

Sonik is calling for both Thanet MPs - Sir Roger and Craig Mackinlay - to raise the issue in parliament before the summer recess, which begins on July 20.