Construction of the first Nightingale 'surge hub' in Kent will be completed next week - but an MP has raised concerns over the loss of parking spaces.

The new unit, capable of holding up to 100 people, is being set up in the grounds of the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford to provide extra capacity for Covid-19 patients.

It will only open if an increase in hospital admissions, driven by the Omicron variant, means existing capacity is no longer sufficient.

A spokesman for NHS Kent and Medway said: "The unit would focus on supporting patients that are medically fit for discharge, to free up other beds within hospitals for patients with more intensive needs.

"The unit gives added capacity to East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust (EKHT) and, if needed, would be used for local patients. There are no plans to transfer patients from other hospital trusts.

"We do not yet know exactly how many of those who are catching Omicron will need hospital treatment, but given the number of infections we cannot wait to find out before we act."

The new facility is being erected in the hospital's main car park, meaning a reduction in the space for visitor parking, but EKHT says it has staff on site directing people to appropriate parking sites while this area is out of use.

Ashford MP Damian Green said: "While it is good that precautions like this are being provided for people in and around Ashford, I am concerned about the loss of parking spaces, which will affect patients making regular visits to clinics as well as visitors.

"I know the hospital authorities are doing the best to provide temporary parking spaces, but of course there is a question of whether this will be enough.

"I hope that people continue to get vaccinated and boosted, to minimise the likelihood of this extra capacity being needed."

One of eight new 'surge hubs' nationwide, the unit will be led by hospital consultants and nurses, but with other clinical and non-clinical staff brought in with rapid training to be able to perform routine checks and other tasks.

The NHS says trusts have been asked to identify areas such as gyms and education centres that could be converted to accommodate patients.

If required, more Nightingale sites could be added to create up to 4,000 extra beds across the country.

The case rate in Ashford has now reached 1,392.9 per 100,000 people, the highest yet seen in the pandemic. This compares to 1,588.1 per 100,000 for England as a whole.

Dartford currently has the highest rate in Kent, at 2,009.6.