A specialist service to care for patients across Swale has been launched at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital.

The wound medicine centre means every patient with a chronic, complex or surgical wound, under the care of Kent Community Health NHS Trust, will now have access to the advice of an expert.

Chief executive Marion Dinwoodie cut a ribbon to declare the facility open in front of an audience of 30 patients, health professionals and colleagues on December 17.

Guests were also given a demonstration of telemedicine.

It involves community nurses visiting patients in their own homes using computer tablets to photograph and send pictures of injuries to specialists at the hub for an instant, professional opinion.

Patients will also be able to visit the centre for a full assessment and treatment plan.

Valerie Harris has regular treatment from specialist wound care nurses.

The 71-year-old, who suffers from lymphoedema, was referred last year after developing wounds on both legs after getting stuck in a traffic jam during a heatwave.

At one point, she was carrying around four stone of fluid in her limbs and was unable to walk.

Mrs Harris said: “Our lives changed forever that day and since then I have attended the clinic, often twice a week, to have my legs dressed. I’m at the hospital so often I’m part of the furniture.

“The nurses here are wonderful. Just to be treated by them and made to feel better lifts my spirits. The care of the nurses here cannot be overstated. They are cheerful, supportive and professional. Thank you seems so inadequate when I think of what they do for me.”

Victoria Cover, head of clinical services for Swale, said: “It’s a great day to be able to add this to our long list of services.

“We know just how painful and unpleasant having a wound can be and having expert advice and care means a faster recovery for our patients.”