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Twelve hip replacements in one day
 Teams in the Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre at Maidstone Hospital have performed an unprecedented 12 hip replacements in a day, led by just one consultant.
Mr Syed S. Ahmed, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, currently performs more hip replacements each year than any other UK surgeon, and recently led teams who performed a dozen hip replacements across two parallel operating theatres.
In a standard operating list, each patient is given an anaesthetic, has their operation and moves to recovery, before another patient is moved into theatre. This means there is time between each patient when the surgeon is not operating.
With parallel lists, there is a staggered approach between patients. Two operating theatres and two surgical teams mean the surgeon can move from one patient to another without being delayed by the turnaround between cases. This allows many more operations to be done in a single day.
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Putting patient and family voices at the heart of our care
 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals are two of the first 143 hospitals in England to introduce Martha's Rule.
The new national patient safety initiative launched at MTW this week, and gives patients and families 24-hour access to an urgent review if they are worried an inpatient’s condition is getting worse.
Martha’s Rule was introduced following the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021, who died after developing sepsis in hospital in London, where she had been admitted with a pancreatic injury after falling off her bike. Martha’s family’s concerns about her deteriorating condition were not responded to, and a coroner later ruled Martha would probably have survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.
The new service builds on safeguards the Trust already has in place, and offers a clear and direct way for patients, family and friends to escalate any concerns, empowering them to work closely with clinical teams and feel assured they will be listened to.
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International staff feature in special BBC news report
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BBC South East featured international colleagues in a special news report on migration last week. Health Correspondent, Mark Norman spoke to Dr Chirollos Romani-Naguib, Chief Registrar, Joanne Cabiguen, Theatre Practitioner and Ashmi Varghese, Domestic Supervisor, about their experiences of living and working in the UK.
The BBC also sat down with Helen Palmer, Chief People Officer, to discuss the important role our international staff play at the Trust, and across the wider NHS.
Over 30% of staff at MTW are international, representing almost 100 nationalities. The incredible contribution overseas staff make to the NHS and the breadth of skills, experience and compassion they bring to patient care, was celebrated on Overseas NHS Workers Day, held on 7 March.
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New diagnostic facility welcomes first patients
In last month's Patient First, we brought news of the final touches to the last phase of the West Kent Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), with scanners delivered by crane.
The Hounsfield Unit, which houses CT, MRI and phlebotomy services, welcomed its first patients this week, including Susan (pictured right), who came in for a CT scan on the new scanner.
The new Unit has been named after Godfrey Hounsfield, a British electrical engineer who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his part in developing the CT scan.
Work on the CDC started with the arrival of mobile scanners in 2021, followed by the opening of the first building, Unit A, in 2023. Unit A offers ultrasound, x-ray, respiratory and cardiology tests, and has already delivered 80,000 diagnostics so far. The Hounsfield Unit will significantly increase these numbers, with a further 78,000 tests forecast to take place there each year.
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Public sector staff recognised with Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Maidstone |
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 As the nation marks the fifth anniversary of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Maidstone Borough Council has awarded Honorary Freedom of the Borough to public sector staff to “give respect and thanks” for the help and support provided to the community during the pandemic. The honour is the highest the council can give to an individual or corporate body, and is rarely awarded.
MTW's Respiratory Clinical Lead Physiotherapist, Sarah Greenslade and Chemotherapy Nurse, Lesley-Ann Crooks accepted the award on behalf of the public sector, alongside the Trust’s Chief Executive, Miles Scott.
In Maidstone, 633 people lost their lives as a result of COVID-19. The UK Government has set up the Covid Commemoration to remember and acknowledge those who were lost since the pandemic began, as well as paying tribute to frontline workers and those who showed extraordinary acts of kindness during this unprecedented time.
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Makeover magic for Lord North Ward
Lord North Ward at Maidstone Hospital re-opened last weekend, following an extensive 12-week refurbishment programme.
The ward, which cares for haematology and oncology patients, has benefitted from a new nurses’ station has well as improvements to lighting, ventilation, flooring and decor.
The refurbishment aims to improve the experience of patients on the ward and of the staff caring for them. Feedback received so far has been hugely positive, with one patient commenting it felt like walking into a five-star hotel!
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Join MTW’s upcoming Board meeting
 Our next Trust Board meeting takes place on Thursday 27 March at 9.45am.
Members of the public and staff are welcome to join the meeting in person at the Education Centre in Tunbridge Wells Hospital, or online via Teams. The meeting link will be available on the Trust’s website from the start of that week.
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