Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

We've published our new Strategy for 2026–2031, which looks at how we will respond to growing demand, changing patient needs and a changing NHS, while continuing to provide safe, high-quality care for local communities. Read more: ow.ly/fji45100T04

We've been commended for taking part in the ACESO study, which aims to improve treatment for patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis, by investigating if adding upadacitinib to intravenous steroids can improve outcomes for adult patients. Read more: ow.ly/6QcA51002cM

Today is Global Clinical Engineering Day and we are celebrating the team whose expertise keeps our 56,000 medical devices safe, effective and ready to support patient care. 💪🏻🪛 Their work may often happen behind the scenes, but its impact is seen across our services.

If you use a wheelchair, scooter or walking aid to support your mobility, we recommend bringing it with you to your outpatient appointment. 🧑‍🦽 We cannot always guarantee there will be a mobility aid available at the hospital when you arrive.

Join our next Living With Cancer Health and Wellbeing event, including a presentation on managing the psychological effects of cancer. 🗓️ 22 October 🕥 10.30–11.30am 📍Unit D, Hermitage Court, Maidstone To book call 01622 227064 / 01892 638069 or email mtw-tr.koc-mtwcancerinfo@nhs.net

Today is #WorldAnaesthesiaDay marking the first successful use of ether anaesthesia in surgery, in 1846. Thank you to all our brilliant anaesthetists and theatre teams, our intensive care units, pain management service and ODPs for everything you do for our patients, every day.

🌟 OUR AMAZING AHPs! 🌟 We have 841 allied health professionals who are at the forefront of improving and transforming care for our patients and communities, helping people recover, regain their independence and live well: Happy AHP Day - and thank you for everything you do!

Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay. 🌏 Using feedback from people with lived experience - like Dulcie, our new Lived Experience Advisor - helps ensure we can provide the best possible support to patients facing mental health challenges while in our care.

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Marcos Katchburian & Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Heidi Furr presented at the British Neurotoxin Network Conference last month, showcasing our Complex Paediatric Upper Limb Service, which supports children with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy.

It was Falls Prevention Awareness week at the end of September and to mark the week, certificates were awarded by the Falls Prevention team in recognition of outstanding falls prevention practice and strong safety culture. Congratulations to all the teams recognised! 👏

Employee of the Month, Paediatric Mental Health Liaison Nurse, Chloe-Elise Hickman was recognised for the exceptional care she gave to a young autistic patient with selective mutism and a life threatening eating disorder. Read more: ow.ly/y07n50ZTYg7

Audiology patients are receiving hearing aids in less than two weeks, after an innovative virtual fitting pathway - where pre-programmed hearing aids are posted to patients - reduced waiting times from a peak of 13 months. Read more: ow.ly/yVvY50ZTRjb

It was a double win at the National BAME Health and Care Awards as Trish Mugwangi, Lead Professional Midwifery Advocate won BAME Midwife of the Year and Professor Chris Holland, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, won Ally of the Year! Read more: bamehscawards.org/awards/winners

Silviya Kuruvakkattuhodi, Staff Nurse in ICU at Tunbridge Wells Hospital is July's Employee of the Month! 👏 She found a person in cardiac arrest near her home, called 999 and began CPR. The patient was transferred to ICU and regained consciousness a few days later. Read more: ow.ly/LSQz50ZSgBh

Congratulations to the amazing team in Maidstone Hospital's Intensive Care Unit who were our Chief Nurse’s Team of the Month for August! 🏆 They were nominated for the award by our Safeguarding team and were presented with their certificate this week by Deputy Chief Nurse, Richard Gatune.

Our AGM will be held on Thursday 24 September at 3.30pm, in the Academic Centre at Maidstone Hospital and online via Teams. If you would like to submit a question, send it to mtw-tr.trustsecretaryoffice@nhs.net www.mtw.nhs.uk/annual-general-meeting

One of our patients was able to enjoy the ICU garden at Tunbridge Wells Hospital during a sunny spell this week! ☀️ Specially designed gardens at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals mean they can still go outside and enjoy the garden even if they need support from specialist medical equipment.

Rosh Hashanah runs from September 11-13 and celebrates the Jewish new year. We wish our colleagues, friends, partners and those in our care good health, happiness, peace and prosperity, today and throughout the year. Happy Rosh Hashanah – shana tova! 🍎🍯

This #IntensiveCareWeek meet the Critical Care Outreach team, a 24/7 service at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals. This specialised nurse-led service of 16 colleagues bring critical care expertise to our wards. They help identify patients who are becoming unwell and need extra support.

It’s #IntensiveCareWeek and we’re celebrating the teams caring for our most unwell patients. Our ICU teams deliver expert, compassionate, person-centred care to around 1000 patients every year. Thank you to our ICU and Critical Care Outreach teams for everything you do – this week and every week.

Infection prevention and control excellence awards are presented to teams or individuals showing exemplary IPC practice. This could include equipment or environmental cleanliness, hand hygiene, and teaching or improvement initiatives. The winner for August was Danielle Larkin from Ward 32! 👏

Surgeons at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals have performed 1000+ operations using robot-assisted surgery! The robot precisely mimics the surgeon’s hand movements. Complex procedures require smaller incisions, reducing damage to surrounding tissues. Read more: ow.ly/TMe850ZGpBH

Can't make your outpatient appointment? 📅 Please let us know if you can't attend, so someone else can take your place. 📲 Over 20,000 people have already used our patient portal to reschedule an appointment. Find out more at www.mtw.nhs.uk/portal

Before any planned surgery, pre-operative assessments make sure you’re ready for your procedure. You’ll now get a health questionnaire by email. Your answers will help us decide if you need further tests. For some patients, this will save a trip to hospital, or mean a shorter appointment.

Our Stroke Advisory Group includes people with experience of stroke care at MTW - including patients, family members and carers - sharing their views and helping shape our stroke services. The next meeting is at Hermitage Court in Maidstone on Monday 7 September. Email mtw-tr.salt-stroke@nhs.net

A team of Radiotherapy staff are taking on a fundraising challenge to make a difference to cancer patients! The Radiotherapy team are raising funds for our MTW Hospitals Charity so we can continue to offer innovative radiotherapy treatment: www.justgiving.com/page/dekafit-kent-oncology-centre

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating for Maidstone Hospital's Catering team! Good food and nutrition is essential to help patients recover while they are in hospital, and there was great news for the Catering team at Maidstone Hospital as they maintained their 5* hygiene rating for another year. 👏

We've been shortlisted for Fire Safety Team of the Year at the Institute of Fire Safety Managers Awards! 👏 The award recognises fire safety teams demonstrating exceptional commitment to improving fire safety.

Congratulations to our Employee of the Month: Staff Nurse for Stroke, Mia Cassam! 👏 Mia's nomination described her rare ability to combine meticulous attention to detail with genuine kindness and respect, creating a supportive environment for everyone. www.mtw.nhs.uk/employee-of-the-month

There will be a crane in operation behind Maidstone Hospital on Monday 17 August, 9am - 4pm. Maidstone Birth Centre will maintain full emergency access. If you’re coming by car, you’ll need turn into the main hospital entrance road and go left around the perimeter road to reach the Birth Centre.

The Cardiac Catheter Lab at Maidstone Hospital has had a major refurbishment and is due to welcome its first patients next week. Work began in April and throughout the project, procedures continued in the Cath Lab recovery area at Maidstone Hospital and at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Last week we welcomed our new F2 doctors (in their first two years as qualified doctors after medical school). The week also saw the arrival of Core, GP Internal Medicine and Higher Specialist trainees and we’re proud to be part of their career journeys. A warm welcome to all our new colleagues!

Our Emergency Departments get busier in hot weather, so help us help you by: ⛱️ Making use of shade 😎 Always using sun cream ❤️ Looking out for vulnerable friends and family 🥤 Staying hydrated. If you need help and advice, call or use NHS 111 online. Please keep 999 for emergencies.

"The retina has no pain receptors, so you will not feel the damage as it happens." Consultant Opthalmologist and @rcophth.bsky.social President, Mr Mohamed Elalfy is reminding people to take care when viewing tonight's solar eclipse. Read more: ow.ly/R6t450ZyY7I

Our Bariatrics service reached a milestone last month as the team treated their 500th patient. Consultant Bariatric & General Surgeon, Mr Yasser Abdul Aal said: “This is a significant achievement, reflecting the life-changing impact this specialist support can have.” Read more: ow.ly/6UVs50Zynfi

Senior Theatre Practitioner, Harvey Dunbar-Gowdy was nominated for Employee of the Month by a colleague. He recognises the anxiety patients feel coming into theatre and responds with genuine compassion, clear communication and reassurance. Well done Harvey! 👏 www.mtw.nhs.uk/employee-of-the-month

☀️ Going away on holiday? Let us know if you won't be able to make your hospital appointment, so it can be offered to someone else. Fewer missed appointments saves the NHS money which can be invested in our services. Call the number on your letter or use our patient portal ➡️ www.mtw.nhs.uk/portal

A simulation at Maidstone Hospital has helped prepare anaesthetic practitioners for a critical care transfer - the planned & safe movement of a seriously ill patient. It’s important we run these simulations, as critical care transfers can be needed 24 hours a day and are under time pressure.

This World Breastfeeding Week, our Infant Feeding team have been speaking to women and families with advice on feeding cues, positioning & expressing, and helping our teams strengthen their knowledge about supporting mothers to breastfeed, if they choose to. www.mtw.nhs.uk/infant-feeding

Congratulations to all our healthcare support workers who completed the Care Certificate in July! The certificate gives HCSWs the knowledge and skills to provide safe and compassionate care. Well done to everyone, this is a fantastic achievement reflecting your dedication, commitment & hard work!

Our first Cardiac Cath Lab complication course was designed to strengthen skills in recognising and managing complications during procedures. During the course, attendees visited four stations covering key aspects of practice.

Our infection prevention and control excellence awards are presented to teams or individuals showing exemplary practice. The winners in July were Ward 12 at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, in recognition of their excellent visual infusion phlebitis score documentation. Well done, Ward 12! 👏

Welcome to our new resident doctors! 👏 Our 82 new colleagues are all qualified doctors in their first level of clinical training, and will complete two years of the foundation programme. After the foundation programme they can apply for further study and training in different specialties.

Under 20 and live or work in Dartford? The friendly team at Overy Street Clinic offer confidential sexual health care, including contraception, STI testing and treatment. Free, confidential walk in every Tuesday, 3–5pm. No booking needed – just walk in.

Last week I took a friend to A and E (Pembury) and minor injuries (Sevenoaks). Both services brilliant, thorough and caring. She also used 111 and the Ambulance Service. Thank you, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust.

Help us help you by choosing the right service, and saving A&E for life-threatening emergencies or serious injuries. If it’s urgent but not life-threatening, you can get fast, expert advice from: 💊 A local pharmacy 💻 NHS 111 🤕 A minor injury unit. Find out more: www.stopthinkchoose.co.uk

Going on holiday? Let us know if you won't be able to make your hospital appointment, so it can be offered to someone else. Fewer missed appointments saves the NHS money which can be reinvested in our services. Call the number on your letter or use our patient portal ➡️ www.mtw.nhs.uk/portal

Congratulations to all our healthcare support workers who completed their Care Certificates in June! 🙌 This is a fantastic achievement and reflects their dedication and hard work. The Care Certificate gives healthcare support workers the knowledge and skills to provide safe and compassionate care.

Before any planned surgery, pre-operative assessments make sure patients are ready for their procedure. You’ll get a health questionnaire by email and your answers will help us decide if you need further tests. For some patients, this will save a trip to hospital, or mean a shorter appointment.

Congratulations to Infant Feeding Support Worker, Florence Cheung Chan who has completed training and qualified as a lactation consultant. Read more: ow.ly/KP8g50ZmkwF