PPC Laura Murphy visits Kent and Sussex Hospital

12.28.27pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th Oct 2004

Laura says staff should be congratulated on their hard work in improving the service to patients and their families in Tunbridge Wells

Liberal Democrat PPC Laura Murphy met with Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust chiefs recently at the Kent & Sussex Hospital.

Amy Page, Director and Claire Spence, Head of Nursing and Critical Care showed Laura, together with Borough Councillor Peter Crawford, around the hospital to look at the improvements that had been made, particularly in A&E.

Laura said, "From the minute I walked into the hospital I was impressed by the staff's friendliness and enthusiasm, from the receptionists to the ward sisters. They are trying to provide a modern service within an old building that is not suited to the task. It takes a lot of hard work but within A&E in particular, the Trust has improved their practices so that now 99% of people are seen within 4 hours. This has had a positive impact on the rest of the hospital."

As well as A&E, Laura and Peter visited outpatients, the day surgery ward and general surgical ward. Laura said, "There were headlines a few weeks ago about how dirty the hospital was. Well, I saw an army of cleaners and the wards, corridors, lifts and stairs were spotless. All of the staff should be congratulated on their hard work in improving the service to patients and their families in Tunbridge Wells."

Peter added, "The new management team has turned the Trust around and they can only continue to improve."