Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Cornea transplant is a 'life-changing gift' Around 6,000 people in the UK are awaiting a cornea transplant, according to the NHS.

Julian Pinhey, a professional model maker specialising in very detailed work, had been diagnosed with an eye disease that would have gradually eroded his sight.

His vision was restored after he received corneal tissue donated by two people.

Today is National Porter Day and we're celebrating our amazing porters!

They are the heartbeat of NHS hospitals, making sure patients get to the right place for their care & vital equipment gets where it's needed most, keeping our hospitals running smoothly and efficiently, 365 days a year! 💙

For Julian, a professional model-maker, being diagnosed with an eye disease that would gradually erode his sight meant he feared the future.

Thanks to donated corneas his sight has been restored.

Read more: www.mtw.nhs.uk/2025/10/cornea-donation-gives-the-gift-of-sight/

YouTube video by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Cornea donation: the gift of sight (World Sight Day 2025)

Meet three cornea transplant recipients and Consultant Ophthalmologist, Miss Sundas Maqsood in our #WorldSightDay video.

Most of us would accept a donor organ if we needed it.

Register your decision on the organ donor register and you could give someone the gift of sight. 💙

Our teams recently attended a ceremony to collect the coveted Gold Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (DERS) award from the Ministry of Defence, celebrating our commitment to assisting veterans, reservists, cadet force adult volunteers, and the families of those serving.

Dr Jay Halbert is Clinical Lead for Children’s Cancer & has been at the forefront of paediatric oncology at MTW for 5 years.

As the world marked #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth last month, he talked about his work supporting young cancer patients and their families: ow.ly/C6lv50X7GxH

Patients can now view radiology results - including X-rays, CT and MRI scans - through our patient portal.

Already used by over 200,000 patients, the portal also lets you manage your outpatient appointments online and get appointment reminders.

Find out more and sign up: www.mtw.nhs.uk/portal/

Can't make your outpatient appointment? 📅

Please let us know if you can't attend, so someone else can take your place.

📲 Over 15,000 people have already used our patient portal to reschedule an appointment.

Find out more at www.mtw.nhs.uk/portal

Last month a team from Trauma and Orthopaedics took on their colleagues at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust in a friendly - but competitive - football match!

The previous challenge was won by DGT but this time, #TeamMTW were victorious and won 5-3, bringing home the trophy.

Well done, Team T&O! 🏆

We're running an emergency exercise at Tunbridge Wells Hospital today & our teams will be responding to a simulated incident.

The exercise won’t affect patients or visitors.

These exercises are carefully planned to test our responses and make sure we keep patients & staff safe in a real emergency.

The new Undergraduate Medical Building at Tunbridge Wells Hospital means we can host up to 173 medical students and trainee doctors every year.

Living close to the hospital, they have direct access to medical and surgical services to complete their studies.

ow.ly/n04M50X5ZW4

As part of Falls Awareness Week, the Falls Prevention team gave teaching sessions on the importance of taking lying and standing blood pressure, and several wards were awarded certificates to recognise their outstanding work in falls prevention.

#ExceptionalPeopleOutstandingCare

On 1 October our teams marked Nigerian Independence Day, celebrating the country’s rich culture, history and diversity. 💚🤍💚

Thank you to our Catering teams for the delicious chicken and jollof rice, and to everyone involved in organising and marking the occasion with such joy and enthusiasm!

The Medical Infusion Suite are taking on a 20-mile hike for our MTW Hospitals Charity.

Medical infusion patients often need many treatments, taking a toll on their veins.

Donations will help fund a vein finder to make treatments easier, faster and as painless as possible.

ow.ly/IJWs50X57Gn

A green theatre checklist introduced in Ophthalmology is helping reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres by:

♻️ choosing reusable equipment
❌ avoiding opening unnecessary equipment
💉 using an anaesthetic technique which balances patient needs, surgical requirements and emissions.

On 16 September 2024, the Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre opened its doors. In its first year it has:

🏥 treated over 3,000 patients
📺 featured on BBC South East
✅ achieved @nhs.uk Getting It Right First Time accreditation.

Congratulations to the whole team! 👏

#ExceptionalPeopleOutstandingCare

Thank you to Rapid Relief Team UK for recognising our Emergency Department teams at Maidstone Hospital yesterday!

Ahead of A&E Appreciation Week next month, they treated the team to coffee and doughnuts.

Thank you to RRT for their support, and to our fantastic ED teams for everything you do! 👏

A group of consultant oncologists are taking on the Kent Downs 50km Ultra Challenge!

They’re swapping treatments for trainers, helping raise funds to support innovations such as surface-guided, tattoo-less radiotherapy treatment.

www.justgiving.com/team/50kmchallengeforkentoncologycentre

Highlights in September's Patient First newsletter:

📈 we’re a top performer in the @nhs.uk National Oversight Framework

✅ accreditation for the Kent and Medway Orthopaedic Centre

🏥 opening the West Kent CDC

📺 Robot-assisted surgery for endometriosis.

www.mtw.nhs.uk/patient-first

YouTube video by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Robot assisted surgery at Maidstone Hospital - ITV Meridian, 11 September 2025

"This technology transforms care completely for the patient."

👀 Did you catch us on ITV Meridian News on Thursday?

See the amazing work our teams have been doing to bring the latest robot-assisted surgery technology to our patients: youtu.be/2qUZyaq4lTU

The West Kent Community Diagnostic Centre was celebrated at an event in Maidstone today.

It delivers CT, MRI, DEXA, X-ray, ultrasound, phlebotomy, respiratory & cardiology diagnostics.

It sees around 149k patients a year, ranking it in the top ten for test volume.

Read more: ow.ly/675V50WVMqa

Our AGM is an opportunity for patients, families and our communities to hear about our achievements over the last year.

The meeting will be held on Thursday 25 September at 2.30pm.

Find out more: www.mtw.nhs.uk/about-us/annual-general-meeting

We've been recognised as a top performing acute trust and placed in segment 1 of the new NHS England National Oversight Framework.

We've been assessed against 18 key metrics and ranked 12th of all acute trusts in the country.

Read more: ow.ly/CIHU50WTX8e

🌍 Today is World Physiotherapy Day and this year’s theme focuses on preventing frailty and falls.

From supporting people through rehabilitation after surgery or injury, to helping manage long-term conditions and improving mobility, physiotherapists change lives every day! 💙

Today is World Radiotherapy Awareness Day, recognising the life-saving power of radiotherapy and the incredible teams who deliver it.

Our Kent Oncology Centre teams carry out over 50,000 treatments a year, helping transform lives and improve cancer outcomes.

#WRAD #WorldRTDay

Matron, Alejandro Suarez said: “Critical illness can be a life changing event.

"Specialist psychological support helps patients cope with the trauma of critical illness, aids recovery and rehabilitation, and ensures families feel supported through some of the most difficult moments of their lives."

Patients in ICU/HDU have tailored support offered during their hospital stay.

They are offered follow up assessments once they go home and an online education/peer support group has been set up for critical care survivors.

Families of critical care patients can also access psychological support.

Clinical psychologists, Dr Amalia Gasson & Dr Elaine Johnston spoke at @ics-updates.bsky.social on their work in our ICUs.

Patients say their work is “extremely beneficial; family & friends sometimes expect you should be over it once you go home [& it’s] really helpful to talk about your recovery”.

It was with sadness we learned of the death of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent on 4 September.

Our old Tunbridge Wells hospitals were visited by Her Royal Highness in 1969.

As a mark of respect, the Union Flag will be flown at half-mast at our hospitals this weekend.

A glimpse of blue sky welcomed colleagues from @hiowaa.bsky.social to our Tunbridge Wells Hospital helipad yesterday! 🚁