1. Meridian
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Medway Maritime Hospital 'cleaner & safer'

An interim report from the Care Quality Commission written after an inspection in March shows that Medway Maritime Hospital has now started to make progress. It has been in special measures for three years.

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'Hospital safer, cleaner' Medway NHS Trust's response to CQC report

The Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust has responded to the Care Quality Commission assessment of the trust's care for patients following an inspection in March.

“Our ambition is to provide the best possible care to the people of Kent and Medway, and we know we still have a long way to go before we achieve that. Although we will remain in special measures, I am very pleased that the CQC has recognised that we have made significant improvements over the last few months. This is a tribute to the hard work our staff have put in to understand what wasn’t working, and make changes to benefit our patients.

“Since the CQC were here last summer, we have made the hospital safer, cleaner and more responsive to the needs of patients. Patients are now seen quicker when they arrive at the Emergency Department, see fewer different doctors, and are discharged to the comfort of their own homes quicker.

“But we recognise that there is considerably more to do. We are acutely conscious that we need to address staffing levels and recruit more permanent colleagues to reduce our dependency on agency staff. Having tackled many of the safety and quality issues in the Trust, we also need to turn our attention to making the Trust as efficient as possible. So we will continue to work tirelessly over the next few months to make improvements and ensure we provide the service that the people of Kent and Medway deserve.”

– Lesley Dwyer, Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust
  1. Tom Savvides

Struggling hospital on the road to recovery

It's been dubbed the worst hospital in the country but after almost three years in special measures, Medway Maritime has now started to make progress. An interim report shows the hospital is safer and leadership has improved. Maternity services are also rated good. However, staff shortages and low morale still need to be tackled. Inspectors say the hospital is now on the road to recovery but it will remain in special measures for the next six months. Tom Savvides has the latest.

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Medway Hospital Trust making improvements

An interim report into care at Medway Maritime Hospital has found significant improvements have been made over the last few months.

Earlier this year the NHS trust which runs the hospital was advised it would remain in "special measures".

However inspectors say they're still concerned about emergency care, surgery and outpatient services.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust was placed in special measures last year Credit: ITV Meridian

“Our ambition is to provide the best possible care to the people of Kent and Medway, and we know we still have a long way to go before we achieve that. Although we will remain in special measures, I am very pleased that the CQC has recognised that we have made significant improvements over the last few months. This is a tribute to the hard work our staff have put in to understand what wasn’t working, and make changes to benefit our patients.

“Since the CQC were here last summer, we have made the hospital safer, cleaner and more responsive to the needs of patients. Patients are now seen quicker when they arrive at the Emergency Department, see fewer different doctors, and are discharged to the comfort of their own homes quicker.

“But we recognise that there is considerably more to do. We are acutely conscious that we need to address staffing levels and recruit more permanent colleagues to reduce our dependency on agency staff. Having tackled many of the safety and quality issues in the Trust, we also need to turn our attention to making the Trust as efficient as possible. So we will continue to work tirelessly over the next few months to make improvements and ensure we provide the service that the people of Kent and Medway deserve.”

– Lesley Dwyer, Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust
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