|
Artificial intelligence helps transform cataract care
 The Ophthalmology teams at Maidstone Hospital have introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) conversational agent to enhance care for cataract patients before and after surgery.
The AI-powered automated voice system, called Dora, is able to call patients to ask questions, understand their answers and accurately identify responses indicating the need for clinical review. Dora is being used to call eligible patients during pre-operative assessment and pre-surgery to check important details, and is now also beginning to be used for pre-surgery reminder calls.
The Ophthalmology department cares for over 65,000 patients a year and the innovative technology is helping minimise delays and make sure theatre time is used effectively.
|
|
Innovative biopsy provides more effective diagnoses for prostate cancer patients
 The Urology team have contributed to an international research study which has become the first in the world to show how a specific biopsy method provides more effective diagnoses for prostate cancer patients.
The TRANSLATE study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and led by Oxford University. As part of the study, MTW’s Consultant Urological Surgeon, Mr Hide Yamamoto, alongside the Trust’s Urology team have been researching the ‘transperineal’ biopsy and its benefits compared to the more traditional surgical process which is delivered through the bowel. The research by TRANSLATE confirmed previous findings that this new process provides very low rates of infection and also helps improve the rate of cancer detection, meaning patients are diagnosed and provided with quicker access to ongoing care.
The study saw hundreds of suspected prostate cancer patients randomly allocated to the new method of treatment, with Mr Yamamoto pioneering the ground-breaking treatment after becoming one of the first in the country to offer it to patients in 2017.
|
|
Trust ranked in top ten places to work in the country |
|
Staff feedback in the latest NHS Staff Survey has ranked MTW as one of the top ten hospital trusts in the country – and the second best in the south east – to work for, for the second year in a row.
The survey takes place nationally each year, and gives insights into the experiences of staff, supporting local and national improvements.
Feedback from our staff helps us improve their experience at work and highlights successes that we can all feel proud of.
We know there is always more that can be done, so the coming year is an opportunity for MTW to continue to build on its vision of outstanding care provided by exceptional people, and the feedback given in this year’s survey will help the Trust continue to improve.
|
|
|
Sleep Service celebrates first birthday
The Sleep Service has reached its one-year anniversary this month, and has already supported over 1,000 patients with sleep apnoea since it was introduced last April.
Sleep apnoea disease is when a person’s breathing stops and starts while they sleep. The service provides patients with diagnostic devices they can take home which measure saturations, airflow, and help assess quality of sleep. Results determine whether a patient needs to wear a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask to treat sleep apnoea. The service also offers non-invasive treatment (NIV) for obesity-hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), a breathing disorder that affects some people with obesity.
The Sleep Service is available to both outpatients and inpatients, forming an important step forward in their recovery, and means patients in the west Kent area now have access to a local sleep and diagnostic service.
|
|
|
Rhinosinusitis patients receive treatment faster |
|
 An innovative service has reduced the time from referral to treatment for rhinosinusitis patients by almost 50%.
Rhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the nose and sinuses, and can be a debilitating condition. The new service means patients receive clinical assessments and initial investigations at the earliest opportunity, ensuring they are treated more quickly.
Key to the service's success was the introduction of a nurse-led triage system. A nurse triages referrals coming into the Trust during a weekly telephone assessment clinic, speaking with patients to determine next steps for their care.
Thanks to this triage model, patients have a phone consultation early in the process. This allows diagnostic tests to be arranged promptly, so results are quickly available for clinicians to make informed decisions, giving patients tailored treatment plans and avoiding unnecessary delays.
|
|
Midwife wins national award
Midwife Hannah Sydee (pictured left) has been awarded the Cavell Star Award for her work contributing to patient safety in maternity at the Trust.
The Cavell Star Awards are run by the Cavell charity, an organisation dedicated to supporting nurses, midwives, nursing associates and maternity support workers. The awards aim to highlight and celebrate staff who have demonstrated exceptional care towards their colleagues, patients and patients' families.
Hannah is part of the Trust's Maternity Governance team, who are responsible for monitoring our systems and processes to ensure that we are continuously improving the quality of our maternity service and safeguarding high standards of care.
|
|
|
Recycling project helps Trust go green
 The Cardiac Catheter Lab team at Maidstone Hospital have been running a recycling project to support MTW in becoming more sustainable and reducing our carbon emissions.
The team perform diagnostics and procedures on the heart, using thin tubes (catheters) inserted through blood vessels. As part of their recycling project, they have been collecting used EP cables (the insulated wires which transmit electrical signals from the catheter to the recording system) and cardiology diagnostic catheters.
These devices are passed to an external company so they can be sterilised, restored to a ‘good as new’ state and redistributed for use in other hospitals. This reduces waste, preventing single-use devices from ending up in landfill or undergoing high-emission incineration.
|
|
|
|
