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#Patientfirst
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September 2025
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Trust performance recognised in new national framework
 MTW has been recognised as one of the top performing acute trusts in the country and placed in segment 1 of the new NHS England National Oversight Framework (NOF).
The NOF is a tool which measures the performance of all trusts against a number of key metrics. These include waiting times for operations, cancer treatment, time spent in A&E, patient experience, patient safety and finance. These metrics are combined to give each organisation a rating of between 1 at the top, down to level 4. MTW has been assessed against these metrics for acute trusts and placed in the highest segment, ranking 12th out of all acute trusts in the country.
This is a significant achievement which reflects the hard work, dedication, and skill shown across the organisation. It is also good news for the communities MTW serves, as top performing trusts will benefit from greater freedom and investment to enhance and develop the services they provide.
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State-of-the-art orthopaedic hub nationally recognised for high-quality care
 The Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre (KMOC) at Maidstone Hospital has been accredited as an elective surgical hub by NHS England’s Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) programme.
The accreditation scheme recognises and rewards excellence in operational management, clinical standards and patient experience. Described as an “impressive facility, served by an impressive team”, KMOC gained the prestigious accreditation less than a year since opening, confirming the centre is delivering safe and high-quality care to patients from across the region.
Surgical hubs are an important part of the Government’s plans to increase surgical capacity. To date, KMOC has already helped nearly 3,000 patients with life-changing surgery on bones, muscles and joints.
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Diagnostic centre celebrated at opening event |
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A diagnostic centre which has provided 200,000 tests since opening just two years ago was celebrated at an event at Hermitage Court in Maidstone today.
Located close to Maidstone Hospital, the West Kent Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC)
delivers CT, MRI, DEXA, X-ray, ultrasound, phlebotomy, and respiratory and cardiology diagnostics, and sees around 149,000 patients a year, ranking it among the top ten in England for test volume.
The CDC opened its first building, now known as the Franklin Unit, in 2023, and the Hounsfield Unit opened its doors to patients earlier this year. Both units have been named after pioneers in diagnostic imaging, and were officially opened today by Professor Sir Mike Richards CBE MD FRCP, who chairs the Care Quality Commission and the UK National Screening Committee.
By operating outside busy hospital settings, community diagnostic centres like the CDC reduce waiting times, speed up diagnoses, alleviate patient anxiety and enable quicker treatment starts.
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Personalised care transforms patient's hospital experience
 Visiting hospital can be overwhelming and for people with learning disabilities or autism, other challenges may increase anxiety.
That was the case for Sam, a patient who has learning disabilities and autism. Sam needed regular blood tests at Tunbridge Wells Hospital and had been finding it difficult to come in to hospital.
Recognising he needed personalised support, Phlebotomist Dani Hobden worked with Becky Hankin, Learning Disability Liaison Nurse, to help Sam build his confidence so he could access the services he needed.
The team invited Sam for four hospital visits over four weeks, allowing them to build trust and for Sam to become more familiar with the hospital. He and his mum met the team, saw the Phlebotomy room, and were able to understand each part of the blood test process. Sam was guided through each step, from sitting in the phlebotomy chair and having a tourniquet applied, to having his blood taken.
Reflecting on the support her son received, his mum said: “Sam has come such a long way since beginning this process. We are very grateful he has been given this opportunity. He was met with such kind and caring staff in the community as well as within the hospital.”
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Innovative surgery featured on ITV news |
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ITV Meridian went behind the scenes at Maidstone Hospital this week for a special news feature on robot-assisted surgery.
Following our story in last month’s Patient First, which shared the news of the first robot-assisted hysterectomy performed at the Trust, cameras followed the Gynaecology theatre team using the robot to treat a patient with endometriosis.
The film crew captured the robot in action as it mimicked the hand movements of the surgeon controlling it, treating the patient through small incisions.
ITV also interviewed the surgeon Consultant Gynaecologist and Endometriosis Specialist, Mr Ahmed El Gohari, who spoke about the many benefits robot-assisted surgery brings, helping to make complex procedures safer and more precise for patients.
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Heroic actions help save a life
 A routine day for Head of Nursing for Safe Staffing, Jules Partridge, turned into a life-or-death scenario when she noticed a traffic jam near Maidstone Hospital.
Approaching the scene, Jules discovered a driver who was unresponsive, not breathing, and had suffered a cardiac arrest. She jumped into action, asking bystanders to help get the man out of the vehicle so she could start CPR.
Seeing the incident, two ambulance staff arrived with a defibrillator, working alongside Jules to deliver a shock and continue CPR until critical care paramedics arrived. The patient, who was in his 70s, was rushed to Maidstone Hospital Emergency Department and spent a number of days being cared for in the hospital before returning home. Jules’ rapid response was vital in ensuring he received the urgent care needed to survive.
In recognition of her swift and life-saving actions, Jules was awarded a special certificate of commendation by Deputy Chief Executive, Steve Orpin.
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Join MTW's upcoming Board meeting and AGM
 The next Trust Board meeting takes place on Thursday 25 September 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. The meeting link will be available on the Trust’s website from the start of that week.
The Trust's Annual General Meeting (AGM) will follow the Board meeting at 2.30pm, in the same location and online.
The AGM is an opportunity for patients, their families and members of the community to hear about the great work being delivered by the Trust's teams, and the organisation's plans for the next 12 months.
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