Patients in need of corrective devices such as splints and braces are set to benefit from a new service.

Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital and Sheppey Community Hospital are to offer non-acute orthotic treatments.

It means new and existing users may not have to travel to Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham for repairs and to collect repeat prescriptions.

The expansion was the idea of Keith Davis, who took his suggestion to orthotics lead John McLaughlin in early December.

Mr Davis regularly uses the service at Medway to get specialist shoes made and fitted.

The 49-year-old said: “I have cerebral palsy so I need the shoes to help me walk. Without them I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. I would have no quality of life.

“I have to visit Medway Maritime Hospital every six weeks. It costs me about £30 a month.

“The service at Medway is wonderful but I couldn’t help thinking patients could do with a service closer to home.

“I spoke to John about my idea and just under two months later, here we are.

“It’s amazing that I now have access to a service close to home, it will have a huge impact on my life and many others, I’m sure. This is major thing for me.

“It’s a great feeling knowing someone has listened to my idea and actually made it happen.”

Mr McLaughlin said: “This needed to happen to enable all of our service users to have a good patient experience.

“What makes this even better is that the patients using the new service will recognise the people caring for them, as it will be the same team from Medway that they are used to.

“This is a lot more convenient for our patients in Sheppey and Sittingbourne, saving them time and money, and it will also free up space on-site in Medway, both in the car park and in the orthotics department.”

The service will be available on Sheppey on Wednesdays from 9am to 11am and in Sittingbourne every Monday at the same times.