MANY people who have heard of Darent Valley Hospital probably don't even know where it is because of a shortage of signs.

Gravesham county councillor Frank Gibson says since the hospital opened last September, many residents have told him they have got lost trying to find it.

And Cllr Gibson, who is also lead member for strategic planning at Kent County Council (KCC), claims that while signposting on the M25 is good, there are no directional signs on the A2.

“Darent Valley Hospital must be the only hospital in the county lacking the usual directional signs,” he said.

“Many people have complained to me about not being able to find their way there.”

Now the Highways Agency, which is responsible for putting up hospital signs on main roads, and KCC say they are looking into putting up new signs this autumn.

A Darent Valley Hospital spokesman said he was pleased new signs are going to be put up.

He said: “There is a general feeling that the signposting for the hospital is not good enough and it is good news there are plans to put up new signs.”

A Highways Agency spokesman says that because there were no signs for the former Joyce Green Hospital, no signs were put up for Darent Valley.

She added: “But the agency has now started looking into putting up signs on the A2 for the new hospital.”