A senior councillor has called for an independent inquiry to discover if Medway Maritime Hospital did all it could for tragic family man Stewart Fleming.

The father-of-two from Rainham died in London on Saturday, days after A&E staff told him to wait his turn despite having a letter from a GP advising immediate admission.

Cllr Rehman Chishti, is the Conservative parliamentary candidate for gillingham and Rainham and a member of Medway Council's cabinet.

He said: "This raises serious concerns about patients quality of care, and the time scale in which they are seen.

"I have previously campaigned for more doctors and nurses, at Medway Maritime Hospital, which involved carrying out a petition.

"This case clearly now demonstrates the need for more doctors, nurses and resources to deal with patients effectively, and in particular in difficult circumstances.

"It is important that lessons are learnt from this, so that in future patients are not put at risk.

"I will be raising the matter with the Hospital and the Shadow Secretary of State for Health, when he visits Gillingham in the New Year."

Medway Maritime Hospital is already carrying out an internal inquiry into the case.

• Gillingham and Rainham MP Paul Clark has also been speaking about the death of Stewart Fleming. Click the audio link above to hear more.