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#Patientfirst
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February 2025
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Robot-assisted surgery reaches 100th patient milestone
 One hundred patients have benefited from robot-assisted surgery at Maidstone Hospital since the service was introduced in October.
Robot-assisted surgery benefits patients in a number of ways – it is less invasive, leads to less pain after the operation, and can mean a faster recovery time. The robot gives the surgeon greater precision, as the robotic arms mimic their hand movements, allowing complex procedures to be performed with smaller incisions and reducing damage to surrounding tissues.
The new equipment is currently supporting gynaecological cancer, general surgery and urology procedures, and the service is due to expand in April with the arrival of a second robot at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
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BBC features internationally-recognised intensive care unit
 The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Tunbridge Wells Hospital featured in a special news report on BBC South East last week.
Health Correspondent Mark Norman visited the Unit after it became the first in the UK to be accredited by an international body for the person-centred care it offers patients - it is now one of only 18 units in the world to receive this recognition.
Last month's Patient First shared the exciting news about the prestigious HU-CI international accreditation, which evaluates different aspects of intensive care to ensure the highest standard is being delivered to patients. Hospitals with HU-CI certification have seen a reduction in patients’ length of stay in intensive care, and a decrease in the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
As part of the feature, the BBC met Michael, who has been a patient in ICU for over a month, and spoke with the ICU multidisciplinary team who support patients like Michael, and their families.
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Last year was a busy one for the Trust, and we’ve been looking back at some of the exciting stories we shared with the media in 2024.
From opening the doors of the new Hyper Acute Stroke Unit to a visit from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the year was full of achievements made possible by our dedicated teams and supportive community.
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Finishing touches to community diagnostic centre
 A very special delivery recently arrived at the West Kent Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in the form of two CT scanners, MRI scanners and a whole new corridor section (pictured here being delivered by crane!).
The new scanners will be housed in the second and final phase of the CDC, a multimillion-pound project at Hermitage Court near Maidstone Hospital.
Opening this month, this final phase of the development will also provide outpatient rooms alongside phlebotomy (blood tests) and point of care testing.
The first phase of the CDC was formally opened in January last year by the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins. It provides X-ray, DEXA, ultrasound, respiratory and cardiology diagnostics, and has already performed around 100,000 tests and scans, enabling thousands more patients to quickly receive diagnostic tests.
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Return, reuse, recycle: new walking aid recycling scheme
MTW has joined NHS England's sustainability scheme to recycle and reuse walking aids.
Patients are now able to return crutches, metal walking sticks, walking frames and elbow crutches after use. The returned items will be checked, cleaned, refurbished and reused for future patients.
The new scheme will help ensure a ready supply of walking equipment while reducing our carbon footprint by minimising waste, and saving valuable NHS resources.
Do you have an NHS walking aid that you no longer need? You can return it to one of the following drop-off points:
• Maidstone Hospital: Main reception
• Tunbridge Wells Hospital: Main reception
• Fordcombe Hospital: Main reception
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Celebrating our phlebotomists
 Blood tests reveal a lot about a patient's health and are crucial to the diagnosis of many health conditions.
The Trust's Phlebotomy team collaborated with the National Phlebotomy Association to create a national Phlebotomy Day - held earlier this week on 11 February!
The day was the perfect opportunity to recognise the vital work phlebotomists do, and the key role they play in caring for patients. They are often a patient's first port of call after seeing a doctor, and help to ease any anxieties around having blood taken.
There are 71 phlebotomists at MTW, who are supported by four administrators. They take an incredible 2,490 vials of blood each day and see 878 patients, walking a daily average of 13,142 steps each.
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Free travel to our hospitals
In last month's Patient First, we shared our new park and ride service for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals.
The free service offers a convenient and more sustainable way to visit our hospitals.
The park and ride is already proving popular at both hospitals, and is easy to use:
- Park your car at one of our free car parks near Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals.
- Jump on the bus to the hospital. Buses run Monday to Friday, every half an hour from 6.40am to around 9pm, depending on the hospital. The journey time is approximately 10 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Get the bus back to your car.
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