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Community Engagement Update
July 2023
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Proud to be 'Veteran Aware' at Armed Forces Day
 Jennifer Oliphant, Public Governor for Swale and Su Button, Communications and Engagement Officer
As part of our engagement with our local community, we joined this year’s Medway Armed Forces Day at the Great Lines, Gillingham, on Saturday 24 June.
The Engagement Team and Jennifer Oliphant, Public Governor and armed forces veteran, welcomed more than 50 visitors to the Trust’s stand.
Jennifer said: “As a Veteran and a Public Governor, it was great to engage with the public; taking time to promote membership and the Veteran Aware accreditation.”
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Our dedicated Dementia and Delirium Team and Dementia Buddy Coordinators was at the Kent Dementia Showcase on 19 May.
They spoke with more than 50 visitors who wanted to find out more about the support available to patients living with dementia, and their carers, while they are in hospital.
Iain Tredway-Murray, Clinical Nurse Lead Enhanced Care (Dementia, Delirium and Mental Health) said: “Coming into hospital, whether visiting for an appointment, attending the Emergency Department or being admitted can be a confusing and sometimes frightening experience for people with memory difficulties, confusion or dementia."
The team were supported by Jay Patel, our Public Governor for Swale, and the Trust's Engagement Team who were collating feedback about hospital services.
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 Adrian Parsons, Public Governor for Medway and Su Button, Communications and Engagement Officer
To support our engagement with young people, we visited the Drill Hall Library, Universities at Medway in Chatham on 17 May, along with three of our Governors. We had a successful time seeking feedback from students, with 21 students signing up on the day to become a Trust member.
A Public Health student graduating this year said: “It is a great opportunity to learn about what goes on around the hospital and behind it, and also share my experiences and knowledge with the Trust.”
Another student said that they signed up "to learn how the NHS works in collaboration with the pre-hospital sector.”
The Engagement team will be focusing on engaging with younger people in Medway and Swale. We plan to return to the Universities at Medway, alongside our Governors, on a regular basis to gather feedback and share more information about the Trust, career opportunities, hospital services and membership.
If your school, college or young person's group would welcome a visit from us, please let us know and we'd be delighted to come along and meet you.
During May and June our Governors have also been to:
- Dementia Showcase, Kent Showground, Detling
- Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre
- Armed Forces Day, Gillingham
- MidKent College, Medway Campus
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Volunteers needed for new Sheppey Frailty Unit |
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 Would you like to help us care for frail patients while they are in hospital? We are looking to introduce a team of volunteers to support our new Sheppey Frailty Unit.
The volunteers would help our patients during their stay in hospital, by offering them companionship and conversation and taking part in other light activities to help them feel at ease and stimulated, such as playing card or board games.
This opportunity would suit anyone with a few hours to spare each week who would like to volunteer for a good local cause or maybe develop skills for a career in adult or social care.
To find out more, please click here
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Our Summer Fun Day is back! |
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We’d like to invite you to join us for our second Summer Fun Day on Friday 28 July.
It’s being held on the Education Centre green, opposite the Emergency Department, at Medway Maritime Hospital between 11am and 2pm.
We have lots of fun activities planned and our wonderful hospital charities - The Medway Hospital Charity and The Medway League of Friends - will be raising money and showcasing their work.
Highlights include:
- Tombola
- Cakes
- Pre-loved toys and bric-a-brac
- Arts and crafts
- Music from Hospital Radio Medway
- Entertainment from the All Star Performers
The Trust is so grateful for the amazing work our charities do to support patients, staff and volunteers. So why not come down, find out more, have fun and help us raise much-needed funds to support our hospital?
If you have any questions then please email our engagement team: met-tr.members-medway@nhs.net
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Celebrating Medway Pride on Saturday 19 August 2023
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On Saturday, 19 August, the Pride Parade will take place along Rochester High Street. Staff and members of Medway NHS Foundation Trust’s LGBTQI+ staff network will be taking part in the parade and soaking up the vibrant, festival atmosphere!
The parade starts at 10.45am from Star Hill and continues through the heart of Rochester via the High Street, along Boley Hill, Castle Hill and into the Castle Gardens.
You don’t need a ticket to watch the parade along the High Street; so come along, have some fun and show your support for the Pride Parade!
Medway Pride Parade will include:
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Bloco Fogo Samba Band
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Mandiga Arts Carnival
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The Loco Cabaret
Plus, local LGBTQIA+ and community performances, along with community and voluntary organisations and businesses working with the LGBTQIA+ community in Medway.
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If you want your family to enjoy a healthy and happy life but feel like you need some help to get them back to a healthier weight, we can help. Programmes are available for children aged five to 17 years who are above a healthy weight.
For more information, please click here
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Sheppey Matters Big Bash returns this July!
Come along to our FREE picnic in the park themed event, lots to enjoy for all the family!
Take a look at their flyer
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 Park Run for NHS 75
The NHS 75 parkrun is an opportunity for parkruns and their local communities to acknowledge the huge contribution that the NHS makes to the health of the nation and celebrate all the staff and volunteers, past and present, who have made the NHS what it is.
The Great Lines in Gillingham and Milton Creek, Sittingbourne. Saturday 8 July
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Swale Pride 2023
The Trust will be at Swale Pride this year.
Come along for live music and entertainment, drag show, stalls food and more.
If you are heading to this event, come and say hello!
Saturday 2 September, 12pm
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Organ donation is the gift of life.
Grab some time to talk about it today with loved ones and add your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
This is the official record which specialist nurses check if a person dies in circumstances where organ donation is possible, so it’s important to register your decisions here and share them with the people you love.
Recording your decision takes just a couple of minutes online – click here to do it: https://bit.ly/4169cXu |
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