This morning, Kelly Tolhurst MP was joined by fellow MPs Rehman Chishti and Gordon Henderson, as well as Lead of Medway Council Cllr Alan Jarrett, at a meeting with Dr Mamun, Medway Maritime Hospital’s stroke physician to discuss the recent hyper acute stroke unit (HASU) decision.
Both the group of MPs and Medway Council have been united in their opposition to the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) decision to reject Medway’s bid to host a new HASU. The decision comes despite Medway being the fastest growing urban area in the South East outside of London while also having some of the highest levels of deprivation and strokes.
Today’s meeting was an opportunity for Kelly and her colleagues to understand fully Medway’s stroke care contribution and what the consequences will be once it is removed. Dr Mamun and the Hospital offered full support for the MPs’, Council’s and local resident’s position.
Following recent correspondence, Kent and Medway Stroke Review Team maintained their support for the proposal which excludes Medway, with the MPs soon set to meet the Secretary of State for Health and reviewing all options on the table.
Following the meeting Kelly said,
“I am still astounded the CCGs have come up with this proposal despite all that says this is not the best decision for Kent and Medway and the Medway and Sittingbourne residents are right to be furious and genuinely worried.
“It has been great to meet Dr Mamun today to see just how much Medway Maritime Hospital contributes to stroke care for around half a million people, and we remain united in fighting to expand it here in our community where it is needed most.
“There is still time and we will continue to work on this in the hope the CCGs arrive at the correct outcome and agree to a HASU provision at Medway.”