Health chiefs in Medway insist they are listening to patients about standards of hospital care.

A survey carried out by the Health Care Commision highlighted concerns felt by patients about various issues at Medway Maritime Hospital including the quality of food and the length of waiting times.

They scored well on operation procedure, including advice given by medical staff.

Medway NHS Trust said various improvements were on the way, including the arrival of six new matrons to boost existing ward nursing teams,

Infection control at the hospital, the trust said, had also improved over the past year. Medway Maritime has achieved a 56 per cent reduction in MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) outbreaks and a 31 per cent reduction in C.diff (Clostridium difficile) infections.

A trust spokesman, said:“We will continue to build on our infection prevention and control initiatives to make sure our patients feel confident and safe at Medway Maritime Hospital.

“We realise with 21st century lifestyles, choice and flexibility are paramount and we will continue to work hard to deliver these.

“We also realise our patients need dignity and privacy and our longer term building projects will see the introduction of single, on-suite rooms and new facilities which will greatly improve the patient experience at Medway.”

See Friday's print edition of the Medway Messenger for full report