Outdated equipment at Medway Maritime Hospital is set to be replaced as the trust pledges to invest £1.5 million in new medical machines.

With support from the League of Friends charity, Medway NHS Foundation Trust hopes the investment will improve patient care and safety at the hospital in Windmill Road, Gillingham.

Some of the money will be spent on swapping old medical monitors for 22 new ones, which are able to detect signs of illness or deterioration in a patient’s condition, such as subtle breathing abnormalities which other monitors are unable to detect.

This allows clinicians to keep a close eye on their patient’s condition and adjust their treatment plan accordingly.

Other equipment includes new neonatal incubators, ultrasound machines and full replacement of the trust’s 48 defibrillators, which are used to start the heart.

Director of Finance, Darren Cattell, said: “As a trust we are committed to make investments in services that will improve the levels of safety and care we deliver to our patients.

“The £1.5 million investment will provide our medical teams with the equipment and technology they need to treat our patients more effectively than ever before”.

Darren Cattell was been appointed interim finance director in January, when Medway NHS Foundation Trust was £42m in debt.

In April, chief inspector of hospitals, Professor Sir Mike Richards, said Medway was showing signs of recovery after almost three years in special measures.

On a recent visit the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, said: “I am very impressed by the progress that has been made. Change always takes time, but I feel that they [Medway NHS Foundation Trust] are really turning a corner.

Medway Maritime Hospital is holding a public meeting about its plans to go smoke-free.

Under its plans, patients, staff and visitors will be prohibited from smoking anywhere in the hospital buildings, car parks and grounds with effect from October 17.

A spokesman said: “The aim is to improve the environment and overall experience for everyone using the hospital.

“The Trust is also determined to ensure that the impact of the change on residents living around the hospital is kept as minimal as possible, and is working closely with Medway Council on this.”

The meeting is taking place at 6.30pm on Wednesday, July 13 in the Hospital’s Postgraduate Centre. Email hannah.puttock@nhs.net or call 01634 825292 to register.