Medway Maritime Hospital has been ordered to do more to combat rising waiting times in cancer care and routine operations.

The health regulator Monitor, which represents patients’ interests on behalf of the NHS, found they were rising in some areas, which prompted actions including a new system for managing information and moving people quicker through the hospital.

The more streamlined approach will free up beds and space for a faster patient turnover, says the regulator.

The guidance follows some progress since a buddying arrangement with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust was set up in February as Medway remained in special measures.

The partnership has been credited with improvements to accident and emergency waiting times, while other areas of care are expected to benefit shortly.

"The trust has taken some promising steps in its efforts to improve" - Paul Streat

Monitor’s regional director, Paul Streat, said: “The trust has taken some promising steps in its efforts to improve, both through its improvement plan and as part of its buddying arrangement with Guy’s and St Thomas’, and we wanted to recognise this in our regulatory action.

“We therefore took a fresh look at what Medway needs to do to improve, such as making sure that patients aren’t waiting too long, particularly for routine procedures and cancer care.

“We hope to see the trust continuing to improve services for patients.”

Monitor will continue to work closely with the trust to make sure the actions are being addressed.

Meanwhile, patients and their families’ experiences of Medway hospital will help inspectors focus on key areas during their visit.

The Care Quality Commission has returned to the site this week following up on last year’s visit which saw it rated inadequate.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust which runs the hospital has been in special measures since July 2013 following the Keogh review into death rates.

Since then, Lesley Dwyer was appointed chief executive and A&E has been undergoing restructuring funded by £13.4 million from the Department of Health.

An inspection panel will look in detail at A&E, medicine, surgery, maternity, out-patients, critical care and end of life care and the findings will be published by the CQC later in the year.