A team of inspectors arrive at Medway Maritime Hospital today to see what improvements have been made since a previous report rated it as inadequate.

High death rates and poor performance on A&E waiting times were among a number of factors which resulted in the foundation trust, which runs the hospital, being put into special measures.

A complete overhaul of senior management resulted in the appointment of a new chairman and chief executive as well as a buddying scheme with Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals trust in London.

Before this week's inspection, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) invited patients and their families to highlight areas they should be focusing on.

Chief inspector Sir Mike Richards said ahead of the visit: "Of course we will be talking to doctors and nurses, hospital managers and patients in the hospital.

"But it is vital that we also hear the views of the people who have had care at any of the hospitals run by the trust, or anyone else who wants to share information with us.

"This will help us plan our inspection, and so help us focus on the things that really matter to people who depend on this service."

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

Subsequent inspections from the CQC in April and May 2014 found urgent improvements were needed to the maternity and the A&E departments.

A further inspection in December 2014 found the hospital was still not making enough progress.

Since then, Lesley Dwyer has been appointed as the new chief executive and A&E has been undergoing a series of restructuring work funded by £13.4m from the Department of Health.

Ms Dwyer, who joined the hospital in May from Australia, said: “Medway hospital’s success hinges on the confidence it gives the community and the quality of care.

“I’m not here to say, ‘Stop, we need to start again’.

"Since my visit in February for the interview, to now, I’ve already seen great changes. The results speak for themselves, especially in the emergency department.”

The inspection team will be looking in detail at A&E, medicine, surgery, maternity, out-patients, critical care and end of life care and report later in the year.

A full report of the CQC findings will be published by the Care Quality Commission later in the year.

The Trust will be one of the first to be given one of the following ratings: Outstanding, Good, Requiring improvement, or Inadequate.