Medway’s out-of-hours GP service moved from Medway Maritime Hospital to MCH House on 28 September 2026, with the council given three days’ notice. A reduced clinic remains at the hospital while the NHS consults on the longer-term model.
Medway’s out-of-hours (OOH) GP service was moved from Medway Maritime Hospital to MCH House on 28 September 2026, with Medway Council given notice of the change on 25 September — just three days before it took effect. The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the change at its meeting on 13 October 2026.
Why the move happened at short notice
The papers submitted by NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) explained that the late notice arose because of the need for an emergency award of the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) contract to Medway Foundation Trust (MFT). That emergency award meant confirmation of the wider changes came at short notice. The ICB said a reduced clinic had been maintained on the hospital site to mitigate the short notice and ensure that no patient was disadvantaged. The papers said patients can be offered remote care and treatment, a clinic at MCH House or a home visit, and that parking at MCH House is free.
The UTC and OOH service had previously both been delivered by Medway Community Healthcare (MCH). Notice was given on the UTC element to support a strategic priority to align UTC delivery with acute trusts, with the stated long-term aim of providing a co-located 24-hour UTC service at the acute site. The option to retain the OOH service at the hospital during the interim period was considered but ruled out, the papers said, because of factors that made it challenging for two organisations to deliver from a single location.
Interim arrangements and longer-term plans
The ICB described the relocation to MCH House as an interim arrangement while a period of detailed consultation takes place. The papers said the emergency UTC contract award to MFT was made on an ‘as is’ basis to enable more substantive communication and engagement with stakeholders during October, to agree the future model for both UTC and OOH services for Medway and Swale residents. The ICB said it intended to provide a fuller report on the review of UTC and OOH services at the committee’s December meeting.
The stated strategic aim is to increase the proportion of patients who contact NHS 111 for advice before attending a site, so that needs are met as close to home as possible. The papers also described a longer-term intention to develop a 24-hour community pathway supporting remote care and care at home, particularly for people who are frail or at the end of life.
Substantial variation question
The committee was asked to consider whether the proposals constitute a substantial variation or development in the provision of health services in Medway — a determination that would trigger statutory consultation requirements under the Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) Regulations 2013. The papers noted that Kent’s Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee had not deemed the proposals a substantial variation or development. Where more than one local authority must be consulted, the regulations require a Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be convened.
The council had not published the minutes of the meeting at the time of writing, so the committee’s decision is not yet on the public record.