Troubled Medway Maritime Hospital has been partnered with one of the country’s leading NHS foundation trusts to help improve services.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust, which remains in special measures, has agreed a ‘buddying’ scheme with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

A small and highly experienced team of doctors, nurses and managers from Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London will be supporting the new leadership at Medway; helping to implement best practice, strengthen clinical leadership and support the significant changes which are being made at the trust.

Medway was put into special measures by health regulator Monitor in July 2013, and as part of special measures, trusts are often partnered with high performing NHS organisations.

Buddying usually concentrates on specific projects, however, the support package announced today will offer advice and expertise to support Medway delivering its own 18 month recovery plan.

Medway has already completed a 12-week buddy scheme with Birmingham Hospital Trust which helped with re-structuring at management level.

Paul Streat, regional director at Monitor, said: “The package we’re announcing today will see one of the country’s leading trusts providing expertise to Medway, to improve services for patients.

“The new leadership team at Medway has been working hard to transform the hospital, and by joining efforts with experts from Guy’s and St Thomas’ they will be able to provide patients with the quality of care they expect.

"This shows how NHS organisations can help each other and share experience to improve healthcare for patients.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “This kind of partnership is very promising. The arrangement taps into the wealth of experienced, high quality leadership within the NHS, and will support the leadership team at Medway to continue transforming care for local people.”

Phillip Barnes, acting chief executive at Medway said: “We now have the majority of the new permanent executive in place and this is the right time for us to take the next step in our improvement and seek out assistance, advice and best practice from top performing hospitals to help us deliver the huge changes we need to make.

“This partnership demonstrates how NHS organisations can work together and share experience to improve healthcare for patients. It is the NHS supporting the NHS to raise standards across the board.

“This collaboration forms part of the new executive’s plan to stabilise the hospital and involves a small team of highly experienced senior doctors, nurses and managers from Guy’s and St Thomas’ working alongside them.

“The enabling nature of this partnership means we draw upon their experience and expertise and implement best practice at Medway to give our patients the quality care they expect and deserve.”

Rehman Chishti MP for Gillingham and Rainham, who recently met with Mr Hunt to discuss greater support for Medway Maritime, has welcomed the scheme.

He said: “I am glad to see that Medway Hospital continues to receive the maximum support from the government to improve its services.

"Medway will certainly benefit from working so closely with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital.”