Friends of Faversham Cottage Hospital and Community Medical Centres (Friends)
Message from the Chair – Temporary closure of Faversham Cottage Hospital, July 15th 2025
My trustees and I were shocked to hear that our much-loved cottage hospital was closing temporarily. Members of ‘Friends’ have supported the hospital since the creation of the charity in 1973 and through more than one threat of closure. Of course the role of the hospital has changed over the years, reflecting the need to help the acute hospitals free up beds by providing rehabilitation and care for older people, particularly those with dementia.
Since hearing the news about the temporary closure, we have held two ‘face to face’ meetings with key managers from Kent Community Health NHS Trust (KCHFT).
Of course safeguarding patients is the fundamental duty of the NHS . We understand that a combination of long-term sickness and a shortage nationally of registered nurses, has left the hospital dependent upon unsatisfactory temporary arrangements, with an undue reliance on agency staff. This situation posed a significant risk to patients which had to be addressed.
We challenged health service managers to explain:
- why there was a particular problem in Faversham
- what was the position of existing staff
- what they were doing to get the hospital reopened without delay.
The critical issue locally has been the absence of a manager to support the staff team, manage agency staff and drive forward the recruitment of more nurses.
We were reassured that existing staff have all been placed temporarily in other community hospitals and have been supported throughout and that their dedication was not in doubt.
A recruitment campaign for nurses has already begun, (although word of mouth and social media continues to be important in this) and sickness procedures are being followed.
We have been assured that the position would be reviewed after 4 weeks and that we would be kept fully informed.
The longer-term role of these community hospitals within the government’s 10-year plan is not clear but we were further assured that the two matters were separate issues and that the recruitment campaign and other steps being taken to ensure that the hospital would re-open as soon as possible, are being vigorously pursued.
As soon as we hear more, I will let you know.
Many good wishes
Alison Reynolds,
Chair, Friends of Faversham Cottage Hospital and Community Medical Centres
