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Anaesthetic department recognised
for high quality care
 Our Anaesthetic department has received accreditation under the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA) scheme.
The team was awarded the prestigious accreditation at an event held at Tunbridge Wells Hospital last month. The award shows the department’s commitment to a high standard of practice in providing safe, effective and compassionate care to patients.
Working across the Trust, our Anaesthetic department provides anaesthesia to patients undergoing planned and emergency surgery, and supports the chronic pain and resuscitation services, as well as maternity and intensive care units.
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Star Awards nomination deadline extended
 In last month's edition of Patient First, we announced that nominations for our Star Awards were officially open - due to a large number of requests, we have now extended the nomination deadline to 11:59pm this Sunday, 10 March!
Our Star Awards give you the opportunity to recognise a member of staff, team or volunteer at the Trust who has impressed you with their outstanding care. With over 480 nominations received so far, there are still a few hours left for you to have your say and tell us whose work you feel should be celebrated at our Star Awards ceremony on 24 May.
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Apprentices graduate in Rochester Cathedral |
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In 2020, Megan Vurley-Luckhurst, Daniel Pateman and Kim Capelett were the first to start a new Apprenticeship route into the Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) profession. Three years on, they were the first cohort at the Trust to complete their programme and have recently graduated in a ceremony at Rochester Cathedral.
ODPs play a pivotal role in theatre and their clinical training takes place almost entirely in the department, where they provide skilled care and support during each phase of a patient’s perioperative care (from anaesthetic through to surgery and recovery).
Newly-graduated ODP, Megan, said: “I loved being part of the first Apprentice course, working alongside the other students from the Trust. Starting this course in the middle of a global pandemic was not easy but on the other hand was very rewarding.”
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We're one of the best trusts to work for!
 Staff have ranked Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) as one of the top ten hospital trusts in the country to work for, and second best in the south east.
The results from the annual National NHS Staff Survey were released yesterday, with colleagues telling us that they would recommend MTW as a place to work.
The National NHS Staff Survey is one of the largest workforce surveys in the world, and is carried out every year to improve staff experiences across the NHS.
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Super Senior Sister smashing six half marathons |
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Liz Solaru, a Senior Sister in the Outpatients department at Maidstone Hospital, is embarking on an exciting challenge in aid of the MTW Hospitals Charity.
With a birthday coming up, Liz added together the digits of her new age and decided that six was the magic number…she is now taking on a total of six half marathons this year, and donating all sponsorship funds to the Charity!
Following eight weeks of intensive training with her husband in the cold dark winter months, Liz recently completed her first race in Deal, managing an impressive time of 2 hours and 21 minutes without any breaks. She is planning to take part in half marathons in Maidstone, Dorking, Ireland and Alicante, with her sixth race still to be confirmed.
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Harry the hound visits ICU
 Meet the newest member of our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) team at Maidstone Hospital, Pets As Therapy (PAT) volunteer dog Harry!
PAT dogs can support patients with their rehabilitation, as well as improve mental health and wellbeing. We have a number of regular PAT dogs who visit our hospitals, and this was new boy on the block Harry's very first visit to ICU. The handsome three-year-old Bordernese (Border Collie and Bernese Mountain Dog cross) was a huge hit, making friends with everyone on the Unit and bringing smiles to staff, patients and visitors alike.
Thank you so much Harry, we look forward to seeing you soon!
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Welcome to the world, Indie!
Baby Indie was born at Tunbridge Wells Hospital on 29 February, and has a very rare and unique birthday.
Babies born in a Leap Year are known as 'leapers' or 'leaplings', and it will be 2028 before Indie can celebrate her birthday on 29 February again!
Huge congratulations to proud parents Abbie and Charlie, and to all the families who welcomed 'leaplings' into the world this year. |
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