Maidstone Hospital's A&E department could see an influx of patients if plans to divert ambulances from Medway Maritime Hospital are given the go-ahead.

The Swale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said it is considering sending blue light admissions away from the facility due to a number of concerns raised by clinicians, GPs and the public.

The hospital has been in special measures for two years and is currently rated inadequate.

Patients in Swale can opt for Maidstone over Medway Maritime for planned admissions, but are usually taken to the latter in emergency situations.

The CCG said changes are being proposed to reduce demand on Medway's A&E department, which is struggling to cope, and provide an opportunity for operational practices to be reviewed.

The CCG said it will look at how additional bed capacity may be made available at Maidstone Hospital to cater for extra blue light admissions.

A report said additional space would likely be achieved by improving the flow of patients at the Hermitage Lane site.

Specific patients would still be taken by ambulance to Medway including under-16s, surgical, cardiac patients, maternity and gynaecological patients and any major traumas.

The CCG said any long term changes in the destination of ambulance conveyances from Swale would require formal public consultation.

Changes are not likely to implemented until late summer.

A Medway NHS Foundation Trust spokesman said: “We’ve been in discussions for some time with Swale Clinical Commissioning Group about these proposals. Nothing has been decided or is set in stone yet. It is also important to stress the proposed measures would be subject to a thorough public consultation exercise with the people of Swale.

“This was first proposed following the CQC Inspection in August. We recognise that improvements have been made in the safe care of patients within our emergency department since that time.

“We’re pleased to see that we continue to receive strong support from local people and clinicians. We will of course continue to engage and work with local healthcare partners as we move forward with exciting plans to modernise our emergency department for the people of Medway and Swale.”

The proposal is due to be discussed by Kent County Council's (KCC) health scrutiny committee on Friday.

A Swale CCG spokesman said: “There is significant support for Medway Foundation Trust from local people and clinicians who want to see the concerns of the Care Quality Commission addressed and for the hospital to provide high quality services.

“However, a number of clinicians and members of the public have also raised the possibility of attending Maidstone Hospital for their care. For planned admissions this is already an option under Choose and Book arrangements.

“As part of its responsibility to the local population NHS Swale Clinical Commissioning Group is looking at the feasibility of transferring some “blue light” admissions from Medway Maritime Hospital to Maidstone Hospital.

“At this point the work is focused on the viability of making any such change, which would also be subject to the CCG going through due process and holding a public consultation.

“Our priority remains to work with Medway Foundation Trust to address the identified concerns about quality.”