A Kent hospital has slashed average stays and mortality rates in a pilot scheme to improve patient care.

Medway Maritime Hospital has reduced mortality rates for acute stroke patients and increased the numbers receiving scans within 24 hours from 10 per cent to 47 per cent.

It also cut readmissions from two to zero.

Similar successes have been made for patients with broken thigh bones, often eldely people who have had falls.

The achievement has come through the hospital's participation in the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement's Delivering Through Improvement programme.

Andrew Horne, chief executive of the Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are absolutely thrilled with the results.

"Patients are receiving better care than ever and staff feel encouraged."

Listen: Mr Horne tells how he expects others in the NHS to follow Medway's example.>>>

The programme was designed to encourage NHS leaders to test new approaches and ideas.

It was led by 16 NHS trust chief executives who agreed to work together on improving quality and patient safety.

The scheme was piloted in two areas, for acute stroke patients and fractured neck of femur patients.

For the latter group the hospital reduced average hospital stays by three days to 14.5 days and reduce mortality rates.

It was also able to increase access to rehabilitation services by making it available to patients at weekends as well as weekdays.

Mr Horne said the trust took part in the scheme both to improve the quality of care and safety of patients and improve the working environment of staff.

To find out more about the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement visit www.institute.nhs.uk .