A new £10 million robotic pathology system has been unveiled at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital.

The new automated system processes and analyses patients’ blood samples for a wide range of pathology tests.

Stuart Bain, chief executive of East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This is a state of the art 21st century robotic tracking system, which has increased capacity and reduced costs.”

Mr Bain said the system will free up virtually all human blood science analysers to concentrate on other areas such as research and will dramatically reduce the waiting period for test results for both GPs and the A&E department.

The new system was unveiled by Lord Carter of Coles, a Labour peer who undertook a full review of the NHS pathology services in England.

Elsewhere, two more Kent hospitals have announced plans to improve their facilities for stroke patients, with two specialist stroke units due to open by the summer.

The new units are expected to open at the Kent and Sussex Hospital, in Tunbridge Wells, and in the John Day Ward at Maidstone Hospital by June 2.

Stroke patients are currently taken to general wards at Maidstone and the Kent and Sussex hospitals for treatment.

The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust chief executive, Glenn Douglas said at a public rally in November: "I am looking forward to our staff developing the acute stroke service to provide the best possible care for people who suffer strokes."