Hundreds of patients receive hearing aids sooner

Hundreds of patients are receiving hearing aids more quickly thanks to an innovative new service introduced by the Trust’s Audiology team.

The team has cleared a waiting list of 595 patients in just six months by trialling a virtual fitting service for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Instead of attending a hospital appointment, eligible patients receive pre-programmed hearing aids through the post, followed by a telephone review six weeks later to check their progress and answer any questions.

The approach has reduced the department’s overall waiting list by 25% and cut the maximum waiting times from 13 months to just four.

Hearing aids are now posted every Friday, with new patients receiving their devices within two weeks of their initial assessment.  

As well as reducing waiting times and increasing capacity for more new patients to be seen in clinic, the new service provides a more convenient experience for patients by reducing the need to travel to Maidstone Hospital for a fitting.

The Audiology team’s work has been commended by NHS England, which is now reviewing the model alongside the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, with the aim of turning it into a blueprint for audiology departments across the country.

Putting the patient voice at the heart of maternity care

People using our maternity services now have another way to raise concerns if they are worried about a patient's condition.

The Trust has become the first in the region, and one of the first in the country, to introduce Martha’s Rule in maternity services, giving patients and families a direct way to seek independent clinical review if they feel a patient's condition is worsening.

The programme reinforces the importance of listening to patients, relatives and carers, and ensures they can access a rapid review separate from the team already looking after them. 

In maternity services, Martha’s Rule includes the daily use of patient wellness questions, helping women and birthing people share how they are feeling and ensuring their experiences remain central to decisions about their care.

Extraordinary care recognised at MTW

Every month, our Employee of the Month Award recognises the incredible work of our staff and teams who have gone the extra mile to deliver or support outstanding care to patients.

Recent winners include Silviya Kuruvakkattuhodi, a Staff Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Tunbridge Wells Hospital. Silviya was nominated after coming to the aid of a person who suffered a cardiac arrest near her home. After calling the emergency services, she immediately began CPR and her quick thinking and actions were crucial in reviving the patient before help arrived. Silviya’s nomination described her as a ‘true hero’.

August’s winner was Chloe-Elise Hickman, a Paediatric Mental Health Liaison Nurse on Hedgehog ward, who was nominated for the exceptional care she provided to a young autistic person with selective mutism and a life-threatening eating disorder. Chloe’s focus on understanding the patient as an individual and advocating for her needs has supported her recovery, and she has now reached her target weight, returned to education and is preparing for her first holiday abroad. The nomination credited Chloe as representing ‘the very best of the NHS’.

Double success at national BAME awards

Two members of staff have been recognised at this year’s National Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Health and Care Awards.

Trish Mugwangi, Lead Professional Midwifery Advocate, was awarded BAME Midwife of the Year, and Professor Chris Holland, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, won Ally of the Year.

The awards celebrate the achievements of BAME staff working across health and care, as well as allies who support the career development of Black, Asian and minority ethnic colleagues.

Speaking about her award, Trish said: “It means a great deal to have my work recognised, but it also reflects the support, encouragement and collaboration of the many colleagues I have worked alongside throughout my career. I hope it helps shine a light on the importance of equity, inclusion and advocacy within maternity services and inspires others to believe that their contribution can make a difference.”

Chris, who is also Dean of the Kent and Medway Medical School, was praised for using senior leadership to create clear, practical pathways into medicine for people from underrepresented backgrounds. He said: “I’m genuinely honoured and humbled to have won this award. When I heard about the nomination, my first instinct was to quietly wonder whether I belonged in the room, which is exactly the feeling I want to dismantle. I firmly believe that belonging isn’t a nice-to-have in medicine; it’s how we build the workforce our patients deserve.”

New technology helping teams save lives

New life-saving equipment is helping our teams deliver effective, high-quality resuscitation to patients in cardiac arrest.

A cardiac arrest happens when a person’s heart stops pumping blood around their body, and effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) more than doubles the chance of surviving one.

The new electro-mechanical devices deliver automatic chest compressions during resuscitation, helping to maintain consistent CPR while reducing physical demands on staff and enabling teams to focus on other vital aspects of emergency care.  

Two devices at Maidstone Hospital, costing more than £10,000 each, were generously funded by the Maidstone Hospital League of Friends. Two more devices were delivered to Tunbridge Wells Hospital, thanks to support from the Tunbridge Wells Hospital League of Friends and MTW Hospitals Charity.

Ever wondered who sits on MTW’s Board?

Behind the scenes, our Board helps set the direction of the organisation, oversees performance and makes sure we continue delivering safe, high‑quality care for our patients and communities.

Many of our Board members have had fascinating careers before joining MTW, from leading global pharmaceutical developments and senior roles in national research bodies to working in major technology companies and charitable organisations.

Collectively, they’ve held roles across public service, spanning careers from the 1980s through to the present day, and from international organisations to UK health technology and innovation.

Trust surgeon trains doctors in Tanzania

A leading knee surgeon at the Trust has returned from Tanzania after volunteering to provide specialist surgical training to local doctors, helping to improve care for people with knee problems.

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Nicholas Bowman, used his annual leave to join a volunteer team of senior doctors from across the UK delivering training in knee arthroscopy.

This type of keyhole surgery enables doctors to diagnose and treat any problems inside the knee joint through small incisions, minimising damage to surrounding tissues, reducing pain and helping patients to recover more quickly.

The trip follows a two-week visit to Tanzania in 2023, when Mr Bowman volunteered his time treating children and adults with bone and joint conditions.

Speaking after the training, Mr Bowman said: “As a teaching trust, we are all involved in education and are used to sharing our knowledge and helping colleagues develop their skills. This course was an important opportunity to pass on our expertise as orthopaedic surgeons and to help make a difference to the lives of people in East Africa.”

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