A PUBLIC meeting has been called so residents can find out if promised improvements to emergency healthcare in Bromley have been made.

Chief executive of Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust, Mark Rees, who has announced he is leaving the borough, called a meeting last November after News Shopper revealed cases of shocking neglect on his hospital wards.

His deputy, Carole Heatly, drew up a five-point improvement plan, which included new staff, reduction in waiting times and more beds.

Residents had all-but lost confidence in the borough's hospitals, especially the antiquated and "gloomy" A&E at Bromley.

With the opening of the new Princess Royal University Hospital, in Farnborough, they will now be keen to hear what improvements have been made.

The meeting, at the education centre, Princess Royal University Hospital, will be on Tuesday, May 6, at 6.30pm. The focus will be on the A&E department and emergency care.

At last year's meeting, Mr Rees faced a packed and angry room, saying: "You want a better service and so do our staff."

A committee of relatives, hospital users and staff was formed to highlight where care was going wrong.

Every year, 65,000 patients pass through A&E in Bromley, which has one of the highest proportions of elderly people in London.