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The trust will collaborate with Guy’s and St Thomas’, one of the country’s leading NHS foundation trusts under plans announced yesterday.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust has agreed an enhanced buddy arrangement with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, which will support the new leadership team at Medway improve the performance of the hospital.

The collaboration, which will involve a small and highly experienced team from Guy’s and St Thomas’, will assist the leadership at Medway to implement and embed best practice, strengthen clinical leadership and support the significant changes they are making to improve patient care and standards.

Medway was put into special measures by Monitor in July 2013, and as part of special measures, trusts are often partnered with high performing NHS organisations. This buddying usually concentrates on specific projects. However, the support package announced yesterday will offer advice and expertise to support Medway delivering its own 18 month recovery plan to ensure widespread, lasting improvement for its patients.

Paul Streat, Regional Director at Monitor, said yesterday:

The package we’re announcing today will see one of the country’s leading trusts providing expertise to Medway, to improve services for patients in Kent.

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.

Monitor will continue to work closely with Medway and Guy’s and St Thomas’ to make sure the buddy arrangement is working well for patients.