Staff feedback has ranked Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) one of the top ten hospital trusts in the country – and the second best in the south east – to work for, for the second year in a row.

The NHS Staff Survey takes place nationally each year, and gives insights into the experiences of staff, supporting local and national improvements.

Against a backdrop of increasing demand for services, the dedication and innovation of its staff has enabled MTW to maintain its position as one of the top performing trusts in the country.

It was the first trust in England to have no long waiting patients (those waiting more than 52 weeks for planned surgery), is regularly in the top five for in the country for emergency department performance and delivered the national cancer standard consistently for over four years.

This is also reflected in the results of the 2024 NHS Staff Survey, which measured staff experience against seven NHS People Promise themes. The annual survey also gathers information that helps improve the working lives of staff, which lead to improvements in care for patients.

Last year, MTW was accepted on to the national People Promise Exemplar programme allowing us to extend and improve best practice in project areas across three of the People Promise themes: flexible working, employee listening, and compassion and inclusion.

The success of the Trust’s work as part of the Exemplar programme is reflected in the NHS Staff Survey results, including a significant improvement in the ‘we work flexibly’ theme as a result of new flexible working initiatives.

Miles Scott, Chief Executive, said: “Against a challenging national backdrop, it is encouraging to see positive staff feedback and that our Trust is performing well. We are proud to have such exceptional people at MTW who work to deliver outstanding care every day, and ensuring their voices are heard is always a priority.

“Thank you to every colleague who completed this year’s survey. We know there is more to be done, and the survey feedback will be valuable in allowing us to continue improving our organisation.”