Top 5% for stroke services in the country

The latest Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) has awarded an overall A-rating to the Stroke Unit at Maidstone Hospital. The latest results mean the Unit is currently the highest-rated stroke service in the Kent and Medway region, placing us in the top 5% of acute trusts in the country for stroke care.

The national healthcare quality improvement programme measures how well stroke care is being delivered in the NHS in England. The SSNAP provides information to clinicians, commissioners, patients and the public which can be used to improve the quality of care that is provided to patients.

The Trust’s Stroke Unit treats around 1,000 stroke patients every year. A stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Urgent treatment is essential, as the sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen. As part of their overall A-rating, our Stroke Unit’s performance was above the national average in a number of areas, including patient assessment times and the provision of therapy.

Trust shortlisted for prestigious national award

Health Services Journal (HSJ) has shortlisted our Trust for the Performance Recovery Award at the HSJ Awards 2023. 

HSJ provides the latest news and analysis on the UK healthcare sector, and covers all aspects of publicly funded healthcare nationwide.

A record-breaking 1,456 entries were received for this year's HSJ Awards, which recognise innovation and improvements in care. Against a backdrop of increasing demand for services, our entry highlighted the many new ways of working we have introduced to ensure patients in our local communities receive some of the fastest access to treatment in the country. 

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony due to be held on 16 November. 

5000th baby born at our Birth Centre

As the NHS turned 75 last month, our Maidstone Birth Centre (MBC) team also welcomed their 5000^th baby into the world – and his mum happens to be a midwife at our Trust!

Orrin Leo was born on 6 July, weighing 9lbs. Mum, Louise, said: “Thank you so much to the team at the Maidstone Birth Centre who supported and encouraged us through the birth of our second little boy, Orrin.

"I am lucky enough to work alongside the MBC team and felt privileged to be on the receiving end of the fantastic care and support they offer, which was second to none. We couldn't have had a better birth experience, and Orrin being the 5000th baby is just the icing on the cake!"

From Kent to Kilimanjaro

Consultant Breast and Oncoplastic Surgeon, Deepika Akolekar, has taken on an epic climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to help fund new cancer technology which will support patients across the region. 

Deepika, who leads our fantastic team in the Peggy Wood Breast Unit at Maidstone Hospital, was part of a group of seven who took on the challenge with the aim of raising £100,000 for Breast Cancer Kent to purchase a Faxitron. This state-of-the-art machine will revolutionise the care for patients with breast cancer in Kent and Medway by helping speed up turnaround times for important pathology results.

Local MP Tracey Crouch, who was cared for by experts at our Trust after being diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, also took part in the challenge. After successfully reaching the summit, Deepika and the team landed back on British soil early last week. 

A haven for children and young people

A new playroom for our young patients and their siblings has been unveiled at Tunbridge Wells Hospital. VIP guest Isobel, one of our young patients, cut a ceremonial paperchain and officially opened the play area on behalf of the Trust.

Located just outside the Hedgehog ward, the playroom will also be used by our Health Play Specialists, who help children and young people to understand their conditions and treatments through play techniques.

Going to hospital can be a daunting and nerve-wracking experience. The new space, which was made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Tunbridge Wells Hospital League of Friends, will provide a haven for children to play and relax in during their stay.

New artwork to support family and friends

of ICU patients

New artwork in our Intensive Care Units (ICU) at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Hospitals is making a big impression on visitors.

Funded thanks to the generous support of our MTW Hospitals Charity, the new infographics are located in our ICU waiting rooms and help to explain what the complex equipment used in ICU is. The families and friends of patients in intensive care often have a lot of information to take in, and the various devices that are used to support a patient can appear daunting. Our new artwork illustrates what the ICU equipment does, and includes breathing machines, bedside monitors and infusion pumps.  

It is hoped that the infographics will provide a reference point for visitors, helping them understand the support being given to their relatives and friends in ICU.

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