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MTW has moved to level 1 in the NHS System Oversight Framework (SOF) – a move which recognises the significant improvements and progress made by staff across the Trust in recent years.

The decision by NHS England to move MTW from SOF 2 to 1 (the highest level) follows a recommendation by the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). The top rating is given to trusts who are consistently high performing and play an active leadership role in supporting local and ICB priorities.

Miles Scott, Chief Executive, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and is down to the dedication, skill and team work of colleagues working across our hospitals. It is also a clear signal to the communities we care for that they can expect to receive outstanding quality care at our Trust.

“While we are delighted by this news we know there is more to do and we look forward to building on the developments and improvements at MTW over the coming months and years.”

MTW operates from two main clinical sites at Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital and provides services at a number of locations in Kent, Medway and East Sussex, including Crowborough War Memorial Hospital, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Medway Maritime Hospital and Gravesham Community Hospital. The Trust is one of the top performing acute hospital trusts in the country, is regularly in to the top five for A&E performance in England, is one of the few trusts in the country to have no long waiting patients (those waiting 52 weeks for planned care) and has delivered the 62-day cancer standard each month for over three years.

The NHS Oversight Framework provides a monitoring framework to support delivery across the NHS. It also ensures the priorities of partner organisations are aligned and partners work together to develop locally appropriate plans. Within the framework are four levels, starting at level 1 for high performing trusts and moving down to level 4, for trusts facing serious quality and/or financial challenges and needing a high level of external support.