Cottage hospital ward to re-open after six months

The ward at Faversham Cottage Hospital closed on 27 July but will re-open again from 2 December

A cottage hospital ward which has been closed since the end of July is set to re-open at the start of December.

Faversham Cottage Hospital's inpatient ward was closed on 27 July "due to critically low staffing, caused by vacancies and sickness", but will open its doors again on 2 December, the NHS Kent Community Health Foundation Trust said.

The trust's chief executive, Mairead McCormick, said: "Our hospital recruitment campaign has been successful and, with significant efforts made to onboard and induct our new recruits for Faversham, we are confident we will be able to safely staff the ward."

She said during the closure scheduled maintenance work had been completed.

Ms McCormick added: "During the pause, [staff] have worked with our teams in other hospitals and have provided them with excellent support.

"Thank you also, to everyone in the Faversham community."