Folkestone Hospital Wards to Close

Two wards at Folkestone Royal Victoria Hospital are to close, health bosses have confirmed. The closure was opposed strongly by the Liberal Democrats. Many local people are upset that despite words of support for the wards by Michael Howard during the recent election campaign, the wards have still been closed following his re-election.

The Fitton and Edinburgh wards will be shut as soon as possible and patients will be looked after in their own homes or in nursing homes instead.

The decision has been made despite a campaign run by Peter Carroll and the Liberal Democrats, objections from both Shepway Pensioners Forum and Shepway Patients Forum and a petition signed by hundreds of local people.

Peter Carroll said:

"If I had been elected as MP for Shepway, I was committed to ensuring my first call at 9am the next day was to the Primary Health Care Trust to call for the wards to remain open."