Maidstone Hospital

Maidstone Hospital 2024-08-28 Person 5 5 0

I’m compelled to write this positive review of Maidstone hospital on behalf of my neighbour, Jeremiah, who does not use the Internet. Jeremiah was diagnosed with stage four cancer four and a half years ago. It has evolved as cancers do, and since first diagnosis it has been treated generally with great success, with multiple procedures undertaken with the greatest care and diligence by various NHS hospitals, specialist surgeons and other staff. Over this time I have chatted to Jeremiah over the fence at least once a week and I have been struck by his incredible tenacity as he has undergone operations, chemotherapy, pains and the multiple other features and stages of this awful disease. Every hospital he has attended has been excellent, he says. And there have been individuals such as his consultant surgeon whose professionalism and knowledge have assured him through the worst periods. But never have I seen Jeremiah show such reverence as he has shown the last few weeks regarding Maidstone hospital. He was picked up and driven in an ambulance during the five-week treatment process, which finished last week. And he was bowled over with the care and professionalism of Maidstone hospital’s staff. He says that on entering the building for the first time to undergo radiotherapy for the first time, everyone from the reception staff to the nurses made him feel relaxed and reassured. On one occasion he had an anxiety attack in the waiting room. The receptionist spotted this and immediately crossed to where he was sitting to placate him. “There were two girls on the front desk and they were absolutely marvellous and remarkably calm,” he says. “I was sitting feet away from them on day nine when it suddenly hit me what was happening. I was feeling suddenly very despondent and they picked it up and came over to talk to me. A reassuring chat, a quick hug, and I was completely back at ease.” As someone who needed patent transport services, he tells me g4s did “a magnificent job” transporting him to and from the hospital – punctual, efficient and impeccably polite every time he was collected and then taken back home after each radiography session. They fulfilled their responsibilities impeccably, he says, and he described them, along with all the hospital administrative and medical staff, as “absolutely brilliant people”. And the radiographers? “They made a picnic out of what for me was a daunting process. There was no fear. After day one, I went into the hospital every day happy, fearing nothing. And every department speaks to each other. When the reception was unattended for a couple of minutes one of the girls from g4s jumped across and stepped in,” he says. Jeremiah had his last radiography session at Maidstone last Friday, when I visited him to see how he was. He was beaming: happy, and delighted with the way he had been looked after. This was altogether in another league from the generally positive feedback he’d shown for all the treatment he has received at other hospitals in London and Kent. After hearing such consistently positive feedback regarding Maidstone hospital, I suggested to Jeremiah that I write and post a review on his behalf. He told me he’d love his appreciation to be shown.

Maidstone Hospital 2024-06-18 Person 1 5 0

Time wasting and prejudice are rife. I've been waiting for surgery for over a year, and it has been made clear to me that they don't want to treat me. I was discriminated against because of my sexuality, and the CEO finds this acceptable. They are unprofessional, slovenly, disinterested and uncaring. I am also disabled, but they don't care. This was with the ophthalmology department.

Maidstone Hospital 2024-06-06 Person 5 5 0

Great hospital

Maidstone Hospital 2023-11-07 Person 5 5 0

The nurses in Oncology and particularly in the Charles Dickens ward are truly superb, very special and they take away any fear of attending.

Maidstone Hospital 2023-10-09 Person 2 5 0

Sorry for the detail of my review. On Friday this week, my wife developed a bloodshot eye and was concerned it might be due to hypertension. Using my blood pressure device it showed her pressures to be 184/89. Fairly alarmed, she rand 111 who told her a doctor would call back. No call, so I gave her one of my Ramipril tablets and the pressure reduced. Next day, the pressures were very high again so phoned 111 and were told again that a doctor would call back. No call. So, went to A&E at Maidstone, nervous of strokes or heart attacks. Hopeless. We were "received" by a scruffy guy dressed in oversized fatigues, who filled in a form and gave it to us and told to wait in the queue. After 10 minutes we were seen by a receptionist who asked a few more questions and we were told by her to sit in the waiting room to be called. After 30 minutes or so we were called by a young person who took us to a room and filled in some more details on a computer and were told to go back and in the waiting room again. NO further information was given to us at this point. After we had been there for three and a half hours, a woman in a pale top told us to sit around the corner as they "were running 1.5 hours early" and we would be called imminently to see a GP. Earlier than what, we hadn't been told. 1 and a quarter hours later we were still waiting. The shift had changed and the woman who'd told us to move had gone home. My wife was becoming more and more anxious about her blood pressure which according to advice on the internet "was at emergency levels". So I went to the desk to ask why we hadn't been called in as promised. "We can't help whose notes they pick up from the tray" To cut a longer story short, we were treated as objects, shown disrespect, but got to see a doctor eventually after five hours. She was ok, a little arrogant and dismissive but what is the difference between a doctor and God? God doesn't believe he's a doctor. The feedback question above is posed "Say what is great about...." which indicates a lack of humility. Overall, the problem for me is that while everyone waits for some sort of service, there are so many "staff" who appear to be unproductive, some of whom won't go the extra to improve communication which for us, was really poor.

Maidstone Hospital 2023-09-01 Person 5 5 0

Staff were friendly

Maidstone Hospital 2023-08-12 Person 5 5 0

I am currently being treated at Maidstone oncology and my care has been outstanding.

Maidstone Hospital 2023-05-13 Person 5 5 0

Attended the Chemo Information and Video Session. What a great initiative- so helpful going forward

Nothing - thought it was very positive and allowed us to ask questions

Maidstone Hospital 2023-03-31 Person 5 5 0

Appointment times are an issue in that there is usually a delay, which is frustrating. Staff and care are amazing.

Maidstone Hospital 2023-03-14 Person 5 5 0

The times I have visited Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals I have found the staff friendly, helpful and professional. All my questions were answered thoroughly. I have no complaints with anything. I know many people have so many issues with the NHS but since going into hospital in January and my visits as an out patient I cannot fault the treatment I have received.