The brother of maverick US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will speak in an emergency conference on the NHS in Broadstairs on Saturday.

Larry Sanders, brother of Bernie who did unexpectedly well in the last US election, is a key speaker at the conference which will debate how to defend east Kent’s medical services.

Called “Defend Our NHS”, top of the conference agenda will be shock plans which could mean the downgrading or even closure of local hospitals and surgeries.

Larry Sanders. Pic: Zak Bond

A spokesperson for the Save Our NHS in Kent group, who called the event, said: “Health bosses in east Kent are aiming to make savings of £292 million here and the way they’re going to do it is by cutting and centralising our medical services.

“Hospitals will be downgraded and doctors’ surgeries closed as GPs retire. The powers that be may deny it, but that’s what’s on the cards. The only way to prevent these cuts happening is for local people to take action now.”

Plans unveiled by health bosses could mean see a centralised A&E service at Canterbury, meaning a loss of the service at QEQM.

QEQM's stroke services are also under threat after plans were proposed to have three hyper acute stroke units across Kent and Medway.

The conference will include workshops on mental health, the government’s Sustainability and Transformation Partnership plans and ways to defend local surgeries and hospitals.

Hosted by Thanet Trades Union Council, the conference will bring together individuals with unparalleled experience of campaigning for the future of NHS in the Kent area.

Speakers will include Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield, health campaigner Dr Bob Gill, Jacqui Berry (Health Campaigns Together and Unison executive), Dr. Coral Jones (Vice chair of Doctors in Unite the Union) and Ken Rogers (Concern for Health in East Kent).

Larry Sanders will be speaking as a spokesperson for the Green Party.

Admission to the conference will be by optional donation.

The conference will be held on Saturday, January 27 from 10.30am until 3pm at the Queens Road Baptist Church in Broadstairs.