State-of-the-art facility transforms cardiac care 

The Cardiac Catheter Laboratory (Cath Lab) at Maidstone Hospital has had a major refurbishment to support the delivery of safe, timely and efficient care.

A cath lab is a specialised hospital room with advanced X-ray and imaging technology. It is used to diagnose and treat heart conditions, like blocked arteries and rhythm disorders, using thin tubes called catheters.

Work began in April and included the complete replacement of the existing equipment as well as a full refurbishment of the unit.

Throughout the project, many procedures continued to be delivered in the Maidstone Cath Lab recovery area and at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, with staff working across sites to maintain services and minimise disruption to patient care.

The new state-of-the-art Cath Lab will shortly welcome its first patients, helping our teams diagnose and treat heart conditions more quickly and effectively using the latest technology in cardiac care.

One thousand patients benefit from robot-assisted surgery

Surgeons have performed their 1,000th robot-assisted procedure at the Trust, achieving the milestone in less than two years. 

Robot-assisted procedures are carried out by a surgeon using a special console connected to a robot which precisely mimics their hand movements.

This type of surgery benefits people in a number of ways. It is less invasive, can reduce pain after surgery and may help patients recover more quickly.   

The technology is now being used to treat patients across a number of specialties at the Trust, including gynaecology, general surgery, urology, colorectal and bariatric (weight management) surgery.

Portal provides faster access to care

A quarter of a million people are now using our patient portal, giving them easier, faster and more convenient access to information about their care. Patients can access important health information, including x-rays and MRI scans, as well as appointment details and clinical letters, with more features planned to make managing care even easier. More than one million letters have been sent digitally since the portal launched in 2023, enabling patients to receive information sooner and supporting sustainability by reducing the amount of paper, printing and postage needed. Laura, a busy mum of two, began using the portal shortly after being discharged from the Emergency Department at Tunbridge Wells Hospital: “I’m always on the go, and after a stressful hospital visit I found the portal incredibly valuable. I had a full record of everything that had happened all in one place. It made me feel much more in control and far more knowledgeable about what was going on.”

Top hygiene rating for Catering team

The Catering team at Maidstone Hospital prepares more than 820,000 meals a year for patients and has once again achieved the highest possible five-star food hygiene rating following an unannounced inspection by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The FSA are responsible for food safety and hygiene in England and carry out food hygiene inspections on organisations and businesses throughout the year.

A five-star rating is the highest score available on the FSA’s hygiene rating scale, and demonstrates the team’s commitment to preparing food for patients and staff in a safe and hygienic environment.

Good food and nutrition are essential to help patients recover while they are in hospital. Our Catering teams prepare more than 2,200 dishes every single day covering breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to the meals they prepare for our staff.

Radiotherapy team steps up to support cancer care

A team of Radiotherapy staff are taking on a fundraising challenge to make a difference to cancer patients.

One in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime and half of those affected will need radiotherapy, with our Radiotherapy team in the Kent Oncology Centre delivering over 50,000 treatments a year.

The team are taking on the gruelling DEKA FIT challenge in November, a fitness event combining multiple running and exercise stations, for our MTW Hospitals Charity.

Training has already begun, as the team aim to raise funds to help further improve radiotherapy treatment and patient care, including investment in advanced technology that can help make treatment even more precise.

Every donation will help support improvements to radiotherapy services and enhance the care provided to our cancer patients.

Join MTW's upcoming Board meeting and AGM

The next Trust Board meeting takes place on Thursday 24 September at 9.15am.

Members of the public and staff are welcome to join the meeting in person at the Academic Centre at Maidstone Hospital, or online via Teams. 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 3.30pm, also in the Academic Centre at Maidstone Hospital and online.

The AGM is an opportunity for patients, families and local residents to hear about the work of our teams, the Trust's achievements over the past year and our plans for the future. 

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