A TREATMENT and diagnostic centre could be provided at Kent and Canterbury Hospital as part of plans to downgrade its services.

Members of the East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust agreed to recommend the centre during discussions on the hospital's future. Their decision means that Kent and Canterbury is likely to be reduced to a cottage hospital, with many of its acute services being transferred to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.

Trust board members admitted that the four options it asked people to comment on all failed to meet the needs of east Kent which was why it came up with the idea for the diagnostic and treatment centre.

The centre is expected to have dedicated theatres for day surgery and inpatient surgical and medical beds and a renal dialysis unit, but health bosses said more work was needed on the plan, especially on the medical staffing of the centre.

The board's recommendation for the downgrading and new centre will now go before the East Kent Health Authority at its meeting at Dover Town Hall at 9.30am on Monday, March 25.