Darent Valley Hospital (Dvh)

from the 1st September 2018 the opening hours at the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) located at Erith & District Hospital are changing. The new hours will be 8am - 8pm.
The UCC treats patients who have an urgent but not life threatening illness or injury eg cuts, burns, sprains, strains, suspected breaks, minor head injuries, bites etc.The address for the UCC is: Erith & District Hospital, Park Crescent, Erith, Kent DA8 3EE. Please use alternatives to A&E if not suffering an accident or life threatening emergency.

A yellow severe weather warning for #thunderstorms has been issued for tonight between 16:00 and 03:00 Wednesday: http://bit.ly/WxWarning. If you are out and about on the roads today, here is some advice for keeping safe on the road in thunderstorms https://bit.ly/2H8dqnc Stay #weatheraware

Lovely to see our Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity Nurse Emily with lots of our young patients at Darent Valley Hospital (DVH).

Our Ageing and Health Department are raising awareness of what frailty is and what it means to our patients. The team will be visiting wards this week offering advice and information on frailty and what they can do to assist.
What is Frailty? Frailty is a loss of resilience that means people living with frailty do not bounce back quickly after a physical or mental illness, an accident or other stressful event. Frail patients often present with increased symptoms, medical com...plexity, and reduced tolerance for medical interventions. Awareness and understanding of frailty can improve the care we offer our vulnerable patients.
People living with frailty are likely to have a number of different issues or problems, which, taken individually, might not be very serious but when added together have a large impact on health, confidence and wellbeing.
If you see a member of the frailty team and want to know more, just stop and ask them. They will be wearing these t-shirts all week so they can be easily identified!
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Tips for coping in hot weather Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. You can open the windows for ventilation when it is cooler. Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don't go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you're vulnerable to the effects of heat. Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this isn't possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark ...curtains can make the room hotter). Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol – water, lower-fat milks and tea and coffee are good options. You can also drink fruit juice, smoothies and soft drinks, but they can be high in sugar. Limit fruit juice or smoothies to a combined total of 150ml a day, and only drink diet or sugar-free soft drinks. Listen to alerts on the radio, TV and social media about keeping cool. Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need. Identify the coolest room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool. Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat and sunglasses if you go outdoors. Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.
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Post Tour de France blues? Take advantage of the last month of our Earlybird (just £49) reg fee to be part of our cycle ride from Darent Valley Hospital to Amsterdam in June 2019. Cycle through UK, France, Belgium and Holland. Another UK victory; cycling's coming home!

Dermatologist warns outdoor workers on the increased risks of skin cancer.
A dermatologist is urging outdoor workers to take a safer approach in the sun as the hot weather continues.
Research shows that skin cancer is growing at a faster rate in men than women, and that men are worse at protecting themselves from the dangers of the sun. In males in the UK melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer.
...Continue Reading

The #NHS is built on the care and skill of its amazing nurses nationwide. Do you want to be part of great team? Then come and #joinourfamily. We have vacancies for Nurses, Doctors, NA’s, Secretaries and many many more. Find out about what opportunities we have available for you – search Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust on the ‘NHS jobs’ website or view our vacancies here: https://tinyurl.com/ybbs84yg #WeAreTheNHS

This summer has been one of the hottest summers since records began. While most people in good health will not suffer these symptoms if they are sensible with their fluid intake and seek out the shade and cooler places, older people, young children and people with underlying heart or lung conditions are at more risk. This is why advice focuses on reminding people to keep an eye on vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbours during a heatwave.
https://www.nhs.uk/…/…/heatwave-how-t o-cope-in-hot-weather/…

EVERYONE WELCOME.
AGENDA 6.00pm Welcome - Peter Coles, Chairman
... 6.05pm Review and highlights of 2017/18 Gerard Sammon, Acting Chief Executive
6.20pm Review of performance in 2017/18  Finance: Lorraine Mills, Director of Finance  Clinical Quality: Siobhan Callanan, Director of Nursing & Quality and Dr Steve Fenlon, Medical Director
Copies of the 2017/18 Annual Report & Financial Statements will be available at the meeting
6.30pm POPS (Proactive care of the Older Patient undergoing Surgery)
7.15pm Open question & answer session Gerard Sammon, Acting Chief Executive
7.25pm Closing remarks - Peter Coles, Chairman
The event will be a valuable opportunity to engage with members and stakeholders, as well as the public.
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Good advice for women who may have high blood pressure during pregnancy - an app has been designed to help.
If you're pregnant and have a history of high blood pressure (hypertension), or have developed high blood pressure for the first time in pregnancy, here's what you need to know about managing it.

Happy 10th Birthday to our Hospital at Home Team (HAHT) who started their service on 1st August 2008. Originally there were only 4 team members Clare Yates, Penny Taylor, Julia Walsh and Karen Connolly. 10 years on there are now 10 team members, Clare Yates, Penny Taylor, Miranda Paddy, Catarina Dantas, Sarada Kaphle, Viji Yeldo, Afis Atilola, Natasha Cooper, Katherine George, Claire Cooley plus 2 physiotherapists, 1 occupational therapist and a support worker. Two of the or...iginal team members remain Clare and Penny.
The HAHT provide short term acute medical care within the homes of our patients. They provide treatment and support whilst monitoring the patient’s condition to allow them to be cared for in the comfort of their own environment.
Over the years the team have expanded the service and embraced the use of digital technology such as digital stethoscopes, kardia EKG recording devices, coaguchek machine to test INR, I-stat capillary blood gas machine to improve the care our respiratory patients receive. They are also piloting a device called snap 40 which will enable them to remotely monitor patients, leading to timely decision making and plans of care.
Clare and Penny have also recently undertaken ultrasound and midline insertion training to enable them to provide better care for patients requiring intravenous antibiotics up to four times a day by using a device called an elastomeric pump. This delivers a continuous flow of infusion over 24 hours, the HAHT aim to have this service up and running by 1st October 2018.
Clare Yates, Senior Sister said “This is a truly wonderful team and it has been a privilege to be part of it for the past 10 years it is a team full of laughs, friendships but above all excellent patient care.”
Penny Taylor, Senior Sister said “10 years ago we took a risk. A risk that we could see as a vision. That vision was the hospital at home team. Bringing the hospital at home team alive from notes on a whiteboard to a fully functioning, award winning and often copied innovative team. It has taken hard work, ups and downs but it has without doubt been a success. A success that is down to team work like no other. Team work makes the dream work. Here’s to another 10 years and more! “
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Thank you John Spooner for the mention of Darent Valley Hospital (DVH) and our Prospect Support Group which is there for our past and present patients recovering from Prostate Cancer :-)

Clinical Education and the Trust are clear that Junior Doctors are the life blood of our organisation and we value their contribution immensely. We are committed to supporting our Junior Doctors so they can achieve their career goals in supportive environment and thus also acknowledge the support they get from their Seniors and the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team.
The Clinical Education Department held its 5th End of Year Awards and Celebrations on Thursday 26 July in The Lect...ure Hall.
The event was hosted by Dr Ali Bokhari and the Clinical Education Team and prizes and certificates were awarded by Professor Graeme Dewhurst, KSS Postgraduate Dean and Professor Jan Welch, Director of South Thames Foundation School, in the following categories:
Trainee Doctor of the Year Winner Dr Flora Elwes, CT2
Runner Up Dr Jill McKenna, FY1
SAS Doctor of the Year Winner Dr Jahangir Alam
Runner Up Dr Devaraj Dyamanna (no photograph)
Most Supportive Consultant Winner Dr Mansoor Sange, Anaesthetics
Most Supportive Nurse Winner Clare Bateman
Most Supportive Ward Winner Spruce Ward
Outstanding Teacher Winner Phil Gurnett, Human Factors and Simulation Training Officer
Exceptional Performance Award Winner Mr Kothandaraman Murali
The event was a great success and enjoyed by all who attended. Please view photographs of the finalists, winner and runners up.
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Today our Pine Therapy (Chemotherapy) Unit held their annual summer garden party, and what a great success it was. The party was attended by many past and present patients and their families. After a delicious buffet, the Rock Choir lead by Josie Black performed for all the guest and what a sensation they were. Not only were the party guests tapping their feet, many patients from the wards around were looking out of the windows getting into the swing. Emma, a previous patient... of the unit along with her parents Lynn and Alan brought along her adorable owls Echo and Indie. The afternoon finished off with the drawing of the raffle where the 1st prize of a Chiminea was won by patient Pamela Allen and her husband Ron.
A huge thanks to Jan Agyurek, Chemotherapy Support Worker who every year arranges the summer garden party, as well as the Christmas one. Jan gives up her own time to make sure the event is organised and run so smoothly despite having her own family member taking a cancer journey.
Jan said “I love organising these events because they really uplift the patients and I am so pleased to see so many people enjoying themselves. We have certainly exceeded the number of people attending this year and I am overwhelmed with how well it has gone”.
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It was International Friendship Day yesterday but it doesn't need to be special day to help a socially isolated or lonely friend / neighbour.
Loneliness is linked to social isolation but it is not the same thing. Isolation is an objective state whereby the number of contacts a person has can be counted. One way of describing this distinction is that you can be lonely in a crowded room, but you will not be socially isolated.
Loneliness is a bigger problem than simply an emotional experience. Research shows that loneliness and social isolation are harmful to health with increased likelihood of people experiencing deteriorating health, and sensory and mobility impairments.

On the 1 – 7th of August every year, to raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and the need for global support, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action organises World Breastfeeding Week. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in 120 countries.
To mark this occasion on Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th August 2018 at 10:30am thousands of breastfeeding people and their babies/children across the world will gather in their own communities to take part in the... Global Big Latch On, a synchronized breastfeeding event in multiple locations. Darent Valley Hospital (DVH) will be inviting our news mums on the wards to join in on Saturday 4th August. Events arranged by Breastfeeding Peer Supporters are also being held locally and every breastfeeding family is invited to attend those events.
The Global Big Latch On is informed by the principles of community development, providing the opportunity for breastfeeding women to get together in their local communities, host their own events, and identify opportunities for on-going support. This year the goal of Global Big Latch on is to break the current Global Big Latch On record of 17,992 children breastfeeding at 758 locations, across 23 countries.
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After a few phone calls from patients and relatives regarding NHS dental charges, our Mouth Care Specialist Nurse Sarah Haslam has pulled together some information for our website on exemption from payment and about the low cost scheme. There is the low income scheme that patients and relatives may be eligible to apply for. Find out more here: http://www.dvh.nhs.uk/for-patients-and-vi sit…/…/nhs-dentist/

We want you to #joinourfamily and become part of our amazing workforce. We have vacancies for Nurses, Doctors, NA’s, Secretaries and many more. Find out about what opportunities are available for you – search Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust on the ‘NHS jobs’ website or view our vacancies here: https://tinyurl.com/ybbs84yg #WeAreTheNHS

We are so very grateful to all of the people who have looked after us and our new baby boy for the last few days. The widwives on tambootie are incredible and make you feel so comfortable and able to ask any question at any time - never making you feel silly for asking or checking anything through my entire pregnancy. Then the staff on the delivery ward were so amazing and looked after us through delivery and recovery after - everyone went the extra mile, couldn't do enough for us and were so supportive at all times. The after care we received after was exceptional on the ward and then in cedar ward. Everyone was so helpful, caring and made us feel so cared for. We are beyond grateful. There is nothing more that could have been done any better. Our care from start to finish was exceptional. Thankyou so much.

Was taken to the hospital on Saturday afternoon with a broken leg and ankle. From the get go everything the nurses did for me was great, from pain relief to information on what was happening. Cannot thank the nurses, doctors and surgeons enough. Especially the nurses on the ‘acer ward’.

The NHS is in dire need of funding but you wouldn’t know it with how hard working all the staff are.

Thank you to the A&E department for the care and speed at which you treated my brother yesterday. A special thank you to Zoe, the nurse who treated him. She noticed how much pain and discomfort he was in while waiting to be assessed and whisked him away to a side room. She showed great compassion and we were immediately reassured by her knowledge and bedside manner. We are all very quick to complain when things don’t go right - so wanted to say thank you for the world class care and service he received.

Thank you to everyone at DVH for looking after me when i was admitted Wednesday with a ruptured appendix. The staff were truly amazing especially all on Acer ward. I feel we can be so quick to moan at the service we receive but not so quick to give credit were its due. I would like all the staff to know I'm truly grateful for the care i received it was first class. �

People say so many things about the NHS but I can't fault the service from Darent Valley Hospital today after phoning in yesterday I've got here and had a very bad allergic reaction to my chemo fabulous service can't fault them thank you. Hats off to the lovely team in the Pine Therapy Unit. Particulary Anna with the unpronouncible surname from the Acute Oncology team and Nurse Stacey who looked after me today.���

My younger sister was admitted Monday. The staff were constantly in checking very good with updating , Kept all her dressings clean and made her feel comfortable. Willow ward was amazing , very clean too. All staff were lovely but a Big Thankyou to one of the nurses on willow ward (Chantelle) she was amazing and made my sister feel so comfortable and kept coming in to check on her , very reassuring. So Thankyou

My little baby boy George wells was admitted to willow ward two weeks ago , I cannot thank the staff enough every nurse that looked after him gave him loving and care esp Hannah miles who had looked after him a lot .. Dr Khan was brilliant I cannot thank him enough ... also Amanda Russell for the time and care that she gave to him and also the support she gave to myself and his dad ... also the two lovely ladies that gave him toys to play with and also gave up there time to come and talk to him .. thankyou all again he is well and a very happy little boy xx

My dad was brought into Darent Valley via ambulance on Sunday evening, I can’t thank the ambulance staff, A+E staff and the staff on AMU enough for their care and professionalism regarding my dads care, he is an 80 year old with Alzheimer’s and he was treated with the upmost care, big Thankyou.

My Husband and I absolutely love this hospital after having chose it to give birth to our baby girl. They have just been amazing throughout, with 24/7 possible contact throughout pregnancy and after with great advice to amazing help throughout the birth. We particularly want to thank the midwives in the birth centre, Sabine and Gemma who were amazing and gave me the water birth I really wanted, they couldn’t have been more perfect and sensitive to my birth plan! Also would like to mention that my after care with midwives Sue and Kay has been phenomenal! I called up one day having felt awful about breastfeeding and within one hour had a home visit, twice this happened with follow ups too and many patient hours helping me come up with a plan that worked for us! The were so sensitive to mine and my husbands needs and emotions and I believe they gave above and beyond what was required of them! I cannot find one single fault in the service I have received from this hospital, even the shops are amazing, everything from a good coffee place to a charity shop and m&s!! All you need �

Thank you so much!!! Amazing staff. ��

Just to say a big thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff - especially to the lady doing the teas/food - in A & E today. My Dad was very well looked after from the moment he arrived to us thankfully being able to take him home again. All the staff were involved in what looked like an extremely busy day but they showed a professional, caring and very good-natured attitude in all their dealings with us and also provided a lot of useful, supportive advice for caring with a relative with dementia.

I was admitted last sunday after breaking my ankle in two place, i waited 9 hours in a&e before being sent to maple ward and they found me a bed ,all i can say is the staff ( nurses ,doctors,cleaners,tea ladies and dinner ladies)was amazing, they was so freindly and caring and done the best they could do even if one day they was short staffed, i really cant thank them enough for getting my through the time i was they for and my surgery . Personally think you should all get paid way more then you do as you go above and beyond..... heros dont wear capes

I was admitted last Saturday with bleeding, at 38 weeks pregnant. From the moment I arrived I was looked after so amazingly well on tambootie and then again when I was taken cedar ward. All the midwives and doctors were amazing. I had my c section brought forward to Monday and I just wanted to say from someone who has done natural birth first and was extremely nervous about having to have a c section anyway it was the most amazing experience of my life! So relaxed and organised. Everyone from the anaesthetist to the surgeon made me feel so relaxed and so well looked after, not just me but my partner as well. My spinal was done in less than a minute and didn’t hurt in the slightest, the surgeon had to act fast to get my boy safely out as she had to cut into the placenta to get to him due to a very low placenta, she did so with ease and my baby boy was born and brought into this world safely and healthy. I was given the opportunity for skin to skin while they stitched me back up and it really was a beautiful experience. Then taken to recovery and looked after by the midwife who again made me feel very well looked after. The surgeon even came to see me after to explain how it all went and to see my son. Which I thought was wonderful of her. I was then taken to aspin ward, where I was greeted by a very friendly midwife who explained what would happen next. As the day went on I was checked on regularly and felt again very well looked after. That night it was time for me to get up and about, the midwife who came to help me was lovely and spent a long time with me helping get back on my feet, she then proceeded to check on me and the other ladies all night. The next day after the change over the midwife came to introduce herself and again was wonderful, she asked if I was ready to go home, which I wasn’t and she said not to worry let’s see what we can do today to make you feel better about going tomorrow. She helped me with feeding, making sure I hydrated myself for my blood test and so so much more. She also made the effort to come and say goodbye before she went home in the morning to make sure I was ok to go home etc. I came home on the Wednesday armed with pain killers etc and numbers to call if I needed anything at all. The food wasn’t too bad either! I’m so thankful to have my baby boy safely brought into the world and for it to be the wonderful experience it was. All the midwives, doctors,nurses etc I came in contact with honestly could not have been better and I will forever be thankful to them each and everyone!

I want to thank everybody that helped fix my baby in the early hours of Friday morning. We arrived at a very busy A&E department with our baby who was suffering from bronciolitus and was struggling to breath, she was seen immediately and treated with care until she was stable enough to be transferred to willow ward, where again the nurses worked so hard around the clock to get her better.

Thank you all, you do a fabulous job x

I gave birth to my beautiful boy on 14th june and the care i received was amazing. the midwife that helped deliver was totally brilliant. amber roberts- she put me and my husband at ease and was calm and chilled and let me know we was in it together and she was with just us until our boy was here. she helped me to breathe at the right points and willed me on when i needed it. she took the time to talk to us and get to know us- even speaking to our little girl on facetime as she really wanted to see “the cool doctor in hospital and the tools she would use” to which amber held her hands up as her tools. she was so lovely and i cannot thank her enough x

I brought my mum to A&E Saturday morning. From the minute we arrived until we left i only have praise for all the staff were encountered. We went to A&E, were triaged very quickly and proficiently. We were then transferred to AEU. We were there all day but the nurses we met were helpful, caring and professional. We the met Dr Twaio who was fantastic. He kept us updated all afternoon, arranged all tests needed and explained things to my mum so she could understand. We needed to go back to AEU today for a scan and results. The staff in radiology both Saturday and Sunday were so polite, helpful and caring and I thank them so much for their great care of my mum, especially Lauren on ct scan today. The pharmacy staff were also helpful and proficient.

Again today in AEC the nurses and Dr Twaio were a credit to the hospital and the NHS. We left with a long journey ahead of us but reassured that the most amazing staff will look after us both. I can't thank you enough for looking after us both this weekend. NHS at its finest. Xxx

Can’t fault the maternity unit at all. I had my third baby at your hospital on the 10th may and all the staff were amazing. I had my other two children at another hospital and wanted to try Darent valley hospital as my 2nd birth experience wasn’t great at the previous hospital. I was worried about having my baby at the hospital as I had heard bad stories. I had been admitted during my pregnancy and was in and out of the hospital having checks due to lack of movement in this pregnancy. Every member of staff was very helpful and always made me feel at ease. I would highly recommend having a baby at darent valley . Thank u all that helped me throughout my pregnancy and labour. Ceder ward staff were all amazing too .

Thank you all.

The cleanliness of the A&E department last night was appalling!!

In the ladies toilets the sanitary bin was overflowing across the considerably wet floor alongside dirty toilet paper. My grandfather said that in the mens there was someones blood everywhere!

Not to mention the waiting room floor was also covered in litter and spilled drinks.

I notified the receptionist of this problem, particuarly the blood over the mens bathroom and it took 3 1/2 hours until someone came to sort it out.

The cleanliness was bad enough but the fact it took so long for someone to clean it is just awful and it concerns me that hygeine standards are clearly not being met

My partner is suffering with back pain, passing blood in his urine...went A&E Wednesday and the doctor just gave him antibiotics and told him to go on his way and to see his GP next week. Last night he was suffering still with the back pain, still passing blood and now was nauseous. Went to the GP out of hours as it was 11:30pm, explained the symptoms and told the type of antibiotics that was given. She was really lovely and advised that the previous doctor gave us antibiotics for a urine infection...even though he explained his symptoms Wednesday exactly the same as last night. Got taken to A&E again and waiting until 3:30am to be seen. My partner was in so much pain. He was on a drip and was very drowsy. The doctor we saw then advised us it maybe kidney stones. We had to come in 9am today for a CT scan and then wait for the results.



Came back at 9am and he had his CT scan then checked in to the waiting room at A&E again at 9:30am. Been told it would take an hour for the results to come in....but no was still waiting 3 hours. Went to the reception as the pain for my partner was unbearable and she told us were next...that was not the case at all! Spoke to another doctor which we had to explain again the symptoms! The doctor then told us it is a back muscle pain and told us to take pain killers and be on our way. What I do not understand is to why we have been told 3 different stories. Muscle pain does not affect passing blood in your urine at all.



This hospital is disgusting you do not see the same doctor every time and explain everything again and again. I do not believe this is not muscle pain at all. The hospital needs to get more decent staff who knows there job!

My great grandad got transferred here at the beginning of last month after waiting a week for a bed for a simple procedure. Then when he arrived my mum (his next of kin) received a phone call to be told there was nothing they could do, however if he hadn’t of waited the week in the first place his issue may of been treatable.

We spent much of our time by his bedside and in the time we was with him (5 days) not one doctor came to explain exactly what was wrong with grandad and what was going on.

Sadly we lost our grandad on the 10th May, however we have still not been able to register his death as all paperwork was incorrectly done so therefore we have lost the chance to see him at the chapel of rest as he is still stuck at DVH as no one seems to know what’s going on despite us chasing them up daily.

All we wish to do is lay our grandad to rest!! Absolutely disgusted with the way his whole care or lack of!! was dealt with and the fact we are nearly a month later and still not being able to arrange anything is a joke!!

We are so very grateful to all of the people who have looked after us and our new baby boy for the last few days. The widwives on tambootie are incredible and make you feel so comfortable and able to ask any question at any time - never making you feel silly for asking or checking anything through my entire pregnancy. Then the staff on the delivery ward were so amazing and looked after us through delivery and recovery after - everyone went the extra mile, couldn't do enough for us and were so supportive at all times. The after care we received after was exceptional on the ward and then in cedar ward. Everyone was so helpful, caring and made us feel so cared for. We are beyond grateful. There is nothing more that could have been done any better. Our care from start to finish was exceptional. Thankyou so much.

Was taken to the hospital on Saturday afternoon with a broken leg and ankle. From the get go everything the nurses did for me was great, from pain relief to information on what was happening. Cannot thank the nurses, doctors and surgeons enough. Especially the nurses on the ‘acer ward’.

The NHS is in dire need of funding but you wouldn’t know it with how hard working all the staff are.

Thank you to the A&E department for the care and speed at which you treated my brother yesterday. A special thank you to Zoe, the nurse who treated him. She noticed how much pain and discomfort he was in while waiting to be assessed and whisked him away to a side room. She showed great compassion and we were immediately reassured by her knowledge and bedside manner. We are all very quick to complain when things don’t go right - so wanted to say thank you for the world class care and service he received.

Thank you to everyone at DVH for looking after me when i was admitted Wednesday with a ruptured appendix. The staff were truly amazing especially all on Acer ward. I feel we can be so quick to moan at the service we receive but not so quick to give credit were its due. I would like all the staff to know I'm truly grateful for the care i received it was first class. �

People say so many things about the NHS but I can't fault the service from Darent Valley Hospital today after phoning in yesterday I've got here and had a very bad allergic reaction to my chemo fabulous service can't fault them thank you. Hats off to the lovely team in the Pine Therapy Unit. Particulary Anna with the unpronouncible surname from the Acute Oncology team and Nurse Stacey who looked after me today.���

My younger sister was admitted Monday. The staff were constantly in checking very good with updating , Kept all her dressings clean and made her feel comfortable. Willow ward was amazing , very clean too. All staff were lovely but a Big Thankyou to one of the nurses on willow ward (Chantelle) she was amazing and made my sister feel so comfortable and kept coming in to check on her , very reassuring. So Thankyou

My little baby boy George wells was admitted to willow ward two weeks ago , I cannot thank the staff enough every nurse that looked after him gave him loving and care esp Hannah miles who had looked after him a lot .. Dr Khan was brilliant I cannot thank him enough ... also Amanda Russell for the time and care that she gave to him and also the support she gave to myself and his dad ... also the two lovely ladies that gave him toys to play with and also gave up there time to come and talk to him .. thankyou all again he is well and a very happy little boy xx

My dad was brought into Darent Valley via ambulance on Sunday evening, I can’t thank the ambulance staff, A+E staff and the staff on AMU enough for their care and professionalism regarding my dads care, he is an 80 year old with Alzheimer’s and he was treated with the upmost care, big Thankyou.

My Husband and I absolutely love this hospital after having chose it to give birth to our baby girl. They have just been amazing throughout, with 24/7 possible contact throughout pregnancy and after with great advice to amazing help throughout the birth. We particularly want to thank the midwives in the birth centre, Sabine and Gemma who were amazing and gave me the water birth I really wanted, they couldn’t have been more perfect and sensitive to my birth plan! Also would like to mention that my after care with midwives Sue and Kay has been phenomenal! I called up one day having felt awful about breastfeeding and within one hour had a home visit, twice this happened with follow ups too and many patient hours helping me come up with a plan that worked for us! The were so sensitive to mine and my husbands needs and emotions and I believe they gave above and beyond what was required of them! I cannot find one single fault in the service I have received from this hospital, even the shops are amazing, everything from a good coffee place to a charity shop and m&s!! All you need �

Thank you so much!!! Amazing staff. ��

Just to say a big thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff - especially to the lady doing the teas/food - in A & E today. My Dad was very well looked after from the moment he arrived to us thankfully being able to take him home again. All the staff were involved in what looked like an extremely busy day but they showed a professional, caring and very good-natured attitude in all their dealings with us and also provided a lot of useful, supportive advice for caring with a relative with dementia.

I was admitted last sunday after breaking my ankle in two place, i waited 9 hours in a&e before being sent to maple ward and they found me a bed ,all i can say is the staff ( nurses ,doctors,cleaners,tea ladies and dinner ladies)was amazing, they was so freindly and caring and done the best they could do even if one day they was short staffed, i really cant thank them enough for getting my through the time i was they for and my surgery . Personally think you should all get paid way more then you do as you go above and beyond..... heros dont wear capes

I was admitted last Saturday with bleeding, at 38 weeks pregnant. From the moment I arrived I was looked after so amazingly well on tambootie and then again when I was taken cedar ward. All the midwives and doctors were amazing. I had my c section brought forward to Monday and I just wanted to say from someone who has done natural birth first and was extremely nervous about having to have a c section anyway it was the most amazing experience of my life! So relaxed and organised. Everyone from the anaesthetist to the surgeon made me feel so relaxed and so well looked after, not just me but my partner as well. My spinal was done in less than a minute and didn’t hurt in the slightest, the surgeon had to act fast to get my boy safely out as she had to cut into the placenta to get to him due to a very low placenta, she did so with ease and my baby boy was born and brought into this world safely and healthy. I was given the opportunity for skin to skin while they stitched me back up and it really was a beautiful experience. Then taken to recovery and looked after by the midwife who again made me feel very well looked after. The surgeon even came to see me after to explain how it all went and to see my son. Which I thought was wonderful of her. I was then taken to aspin ward, where I was greeted by a very friendly midwife who explained what would happen next. As the day went on I was checked on regularly and felt again very well looked after. That night it was time for me to get up and about, the midwife who came to help me was lovely and spent a long time with me helping get back on my feet, she then proceeded to check on me and the other ladies all night. The next day after the change over the midwife came to introduce herself and again was wonderful, she asked if I was ready to go home, which I wasn’t and she said not to worry let’s see what we can do today to make you feel better about going tomorrow. She helped me with feeding, making sure I hydrated myself for my blood test and so so much more. She also made the effort to come and say goodbye before she went home in the morning to make sure I was ok to go home etc. I came home on the Wednesday armed with pain killers etc and numbers to call if I needed anything at all. The food wasn’t too bad either! I’m so thankful to have my baby boy safely brought into the world and for it to be the wonderful experience it was. All the midwives, doctors,nurses etc I came in contact with honestly could not have been better and I will forever be thankful to them each and everyone!

I want to thank everybody that helped fix my baby in the early hours of Friday morning. We arrived at a very busy A&E department with our baby who was suffering from bronciolitus and was struggling to breath, she was seen immediately and treated with care until she was stable enough to be transferred to willow ward, where again the nurses worked so hard around the clock to get her better.

Thank you all, you do a fabulous job x

I gave birth to my beautiful boy on 14th june and the care i received was amazing. the midwife that helped deliver was totally brilliant. amber roberts- she put me and my husband at ease and was calm and chilled and let me know we was in it together and she was with just us until our boy was here. she helped me to breathe at the right points and willed me on when i needed it. she took the time to talk to us and get to know us- even speaking to our little girl on facetime as she really wanted to see “the cool doctor in hospital and the tools she would use” to which amber held her hands up as her tools. she was so lovely and i cannot thank her enough x

I brought my mum to A&E Saturday morning. From the minute we arrived until we left i only have praise for all the staff were encountered. We went to A&E, were triaged very quickly and proficiently. We were then transferred to AEU. We were there all day but the nurses we met were helpful, caring and professional. We the met Dr Twaio who was fantastic. He kept us updated all afternoon, arranged all tests needed and explained things to my mum so she could understand. We needed to go back to AEU today for a scan and results. The staff in radiology both Saturday and Sunday were so polite, helpful and caring and I thank them so much for their great care of my mum, especially Lauren on ct scan today. The pharmacy staff were also helpful and proficient.

Again today in AEC the nurses and Dr Twaio were a credit to the hospital and the NHS. We left with a long journey ahead of us but reassured that the most amazing staff will look after us both. I can't thank you enough for looking after us both this weekend. NHS at its finest. Xxx

Can’t fault the maternity unit at all. I had my third baby at your hospital on the 10th may and all the staff were amazing. I had my other two children at another hospital and wanted to try Darent valley hospital as my 2nd birth experience wasn’t great at the previous hospital. I was worried about having my baby at the hospital as I had heard bad stories. I had been admitted during my pregnancy and was in and out of the hospital having checks due to lack of movement in this pregnancy. Every member of staff was very helpful and always made me feel at ease. I would highly recommend having a baby at darent valley . Thank u all that helped me throughout my pregnancy and labour. Ceder ward staff were all amazing too .

Thank you all.

The cleanliness of the A&E department last night was appalling!!

In the ladies toilets the sanitary bin was overflowing across the considerably wet floor alongside dirty toilet paper. My grandfather said that in the mens there was someones blood everywhere!

Not to mention the waiting room floor was also covered in litter and spilled drinks.

I notified the receptionist of this problem, particuarly the blood over the mens bathroom and it took 3 1/2 hours until someone came to sort it out.

The cleanliness was bad enough but the fact it took so long for someone to clean it is just awful and it concerns me that hygeine standards are clearly not being met

My partner is suffering with back pain, passing blood in his urine...went A&E Wednesday and the doctor just gave him antibiotics and told him to go on his way and to see his GP next week. Last night he was suffering still with the back pain, still passing blood and now was nauseous. Went to the GP out of hours as it was 11:30pm, explained the symptoms and told the type of antibiotics that was given. She was really lovely and advised that the previous doctor gave us antibiotics for a urine infection...even though he explained his symptoms Wednesday exactly the same as last night. Got taken to A&E again and waiting until 3:30am to be seen. My partner was in so much pain. He was on a drip and was very drowsy. The doctor we saw then advised us it maybe kidney stones. We had to come in 9am today for a CT scan and then wait for the results.



Came back at 9am and he had his CT scan then checked in to the waiting room at A&E again at 9:30am. Been told it would take an hour for the results to come in....but no was still waiting 3 hours. Went to the reception as the pain for my partner was unbearable and she told us were next...that was not the case at all! Spoke to another doctor which we had to explain again the symptoms! The doctor then told us it is a back muscle pain and told us to take pain killers and be on our way. What I do not understand is to why we have been told 3 different stories. Muscle pain does not affect passing blood in your urine at all.



This hospital is disgusting you do not see the same doctor every time and explain everything again and again. I do not believe this is not muscle pain at all. The hospital needs to get more decent staff who knows there job!

My great grandad got transferred here at the beginning of last month after waiting a week for a bed for a simple procedure. Then when he arrived my mum (his next of kin) received a phone call to be told there was nothing they could do, however if he hadn’t of waited the week in the first place his issue may of been treatable.

We spent much of our time by his bedside and in the time we was with him (5 days) not one doctor came to explain exactly what was wrong with grandad and what was going on.

Sadly we lost our grandad on the 10th May, however we have still not been able to register his death as all paperwork was incorrectly done so therefore we have lost the chance to see him at the chapel of rest as he is still stuck at DVH as no one seems to know what’s going on despite us chasing them up daily.

All we wish to do is lay our grandad to rest!! Absolutely disgusted with the way his whole care or lack of!! was dealt with and the fact we are nearly a month later and still not being able to arrange anything is a joke!!

We are so very grateful to all of the people who have looked after us and our new baby boy for the last few days. The widwives on tambootie are incredible and make you feel so comfortable and able to ask any question at any time - never making you feel silly for asking or checking anything through my entire pregnancy. Then the staff on the delivery ward were so amazing and looked after us through delivery and recovery after - everyone went the extra mile, couldn't do enough for us and were so supportive at all times. The after care we received after was exceptional on the ward and then in cedar ward. Everyone was so helpful, caring and made us feel so cared for. We are beyond grateful. There is nothing more that could have been done any better. Our care from start to finish was exceptional. Thankyou so much.

Was taken to the hospital on Saturday afternoon with a broken leg and ankle. From the get go everything the nurses did for me was great, from pain relief to information on what was happening. Cannot thank the nurses, doctors and surgeons enough. Especially the nurses on the ‘acer ward’.

The NHS is in dire need of funding but you wouldn’t know it with how hard working all the staff are.

Thank you to the A&E department for the care and speed at which you treated my brother yesterday. A special thank you to Zoe, the nurse who treated him. She noticed how much pain and discomfort he was in while waiting to be assessed and whisked him away to a side room. She showed great compassion and we were immediately reassured by her knowledge and bedside manner. We are all very quick to complain when things don’t go right - so wanted to say thank you for the world class care and service he received.

Thank you to everyone at DVH for looking after me when i was admitted Wednesday with a ruptured appendix. The staff were truly amazing especially all on Acer ward. I feel we can be so quick to moan at the service we receive but not so quick to give credit were its due. I would like all the staff to know I'm truly grateful for the care i received it was first class. �

People say so many things about the NHS but I can't fault the service from Darent Valley Hospital today after phoning in yesterday I've got here and had a very bad allergic reaction to my chemo fabulous service can't fault them thank you. Hats off to the lovely team in the Pine Therapy Unit. Particulary Anna with the unpronouncible surname from the Acute Oncology team and Nurse Stacey who looked after me today.���

My younger sister was admitted Monday. The staff were constantly in checking very good with updating , Kept all her dressings clean and made her feel comfortable. Willow ward was amazing , very clean too. All staff were lovely but a Big Thankyou to one of the nurses on willow ward (Chantelle) she was amazing and made my sister feel so comfortable and kept coming in to check on her , very reassuring. So Thankyou

My little baby boy George wells was admitted to willow ward two weeks ago , I cannot thank the staff enough every nurse that looked after him gave him loving and care esp Hannah miles who had looked after him a lot .. Dr Khan was brilliant I cannot thank him enough ... also Amanda Russell for the time and care that she gave to him and also the support she gave to myself and his dad ... also the two lovely ladies that gave him toys to play with and also gave up there time to come and talk to him .. thankyou all again he is well and a very happy little boy xx

My dad was brought into Darent Valley via ambulance on Sunday evening, I can’t thank the ambulance staff, A+E staff and the staff on AMU enough for their care and professionalism regarding my dads care, he is an 80 year old with Alzheimer’s and he was treated with the upmost care, big Thankyou.

My Husband and I absolutely love this hospital after having chose it to give birth to our baby girl. They have just been amazing throughout, with 24/7 possible contact throughout pregnancy and after with great advice to amazing help throughout the birth. We particularly want to thank the midwives in the birth centre, Sabine and Gemma who were amazing and gave me the water birth I really wanted, they couldn’t have been more perfect and sensitive to my birth plan! Also would like to mention that my after care with midwives Sue and Kay has been phenomenal! I called up one day having felt awful about breastfeeding and within one hour had a home visit, twice this happened with follow ups too and many patient hours helping me come up with a plan that worked for us! The were so sensitive to mine and my husbands needs and emotions and I believe they gave above and beyond what was required of them! I cannot find one single fault in the service I have received from this hospital, even the shops are amazing, everything from a good coffee place to a charity shop and m&s!! All you need �

Thank you so much!!! Amazing staff. ��

Just to say a big thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff - especially to the lady doing the teas/food - in A & E today. My Dad was very well looked after from the moment he arrived to us thankfully being able to take him home again. All the staff were involved in what looked like an extremely busy day but they showed a professional, caring and very good-natured attitude in all their dealings with us and also provided a lot of useful, supportive advice for caring with a relative with dementia.

I was admitted last sunday after breaking my ankle in two place, i waited 9 hours in a&e before being sent to maple ward and they found me a bed ,all i can say is the staff ( nurses ,doctors,cleaners,tea ladies and dinner ladies)was amazing, they was so freindly and caring and done the best they could do even if one day they was short staffed, i really cant thank them enough for getting my through the time i was they for and my surgery . Personally think you should all get paid way more then you do as you go above and beyond..... heros dont wear capes

I was admitted last Saturday with bleeding, at 38 weeks pregnant. From the moment I arrived I was looked after so amazingly well on tambootie and then again when I was taken cedar ward. All the midwives and doctors were amazing. I had my c section brought forward to Monday and I just wanted to say from someone who has done natural birth first and was extremely nervous about having to have a c section anyway it was the most amazing experience of my life! So relaxed and organised. Everyone from the anaesthetist to the surgeon made me feel so relaxed and so well looked after, not just me but my partner as well. My spinal was done in less than a minute and didn’t hurt in the slightest, the surgeon had to act fast to get my boy safely out as she had to cut into the placenta to get to him due to a very low placenta, she did so with ease and my baby boy was born and brought into this world safely and healthy. I was given the opportunity for skin to skin while they stitched me back up and it really was a beautiful experience. Then taken to recovery and looked after by the midwife who again made me feel very well looked after. The surgeon even came to see me after to explain how it all went and to see my son. Which I thought was wonderful of her. I was then taken to aspin ward, where I was greeted by a very friendly midwife who explained what would happen next. As the day went on I was checked on regularly and felt again very well looked after. That night it was time for me to get up and about, the midwife who came to help me was lovely and spent a long time with me helping get back on my feet, she then proceeded to check on me and the other ladies all night. The next day after the change over the midwife came to introduce herself and again was wonderful, she asked if I was ready to go home, which I wasn’t and she said not to worry let’s see what we can do today to make you feel better about going tomorrow. She helped me with feeding, making sure I hydrated myself for my blood test and so so much more. She also made the effort to come and say goodbye before she went home in the morning to make sure I was ok to go home etc. I came home on the Wednesday armed with pain killers etc and numbers to call if I needed anything at all. The food wasn’t too bad either! I’m so thankful to have my baby boy safely brought into the world and for it to be the wonderful experience it was. All the midwives, doctors,nurses etc I came in contact with honestly could not have been better and I will forever be thankful to them each and everyone!

I want to thank everybody that helped fix my baby in the early hours of Friday morning. We arrived at a very busy A&E department with our baby who was suffering from bronciolitus and was struggling to breath, she was seen immediately and treated with care until she was stable enough to be transferred to willow ward, where again the nurses worked so hard around the clock to get her better.

Thank you all, you do a fabulous job x

I gave birth to my beautiful boy on 14th june and the care i received was amazing. the midwife that helped deliver was totally brilliant. amber roberts- she put me and my husband at ease and was calm and chilled and let me know we was in it together and she was with just us until our boy was here. she helped me to breathe at the right points and willed me on when i needed it. she took the time to talk to us and get to know us- even speaking to our little girl on facetime as she really wanted to see “the cool doctor in hospital and the tools she would use” to which amber held her hands up as her tools. she was so lovely and i cannot thank her enough x

I brought my mum to A&E Saturday morning. From the minute we arrived until we left i only have praise for all the staff were encountered. We went to A&E, were triaged very quickly and proficiently. We were then transferred to AEU. We were there all day but the nurses we met were helpful, caring and professional. We the met Dr Twaio who was fantastic. He kept us updated all afternoon, arranged all tests needed and explained things to my mum so she could understand. We needed to go back to AEU today for a scan and results. The staff in radiology both Saturday and Sunday were so polite, helpful and caring and I thank them so much for their great care of my mum, especially Lauren on ct scan today. The pharmacy staff were also helpful and proficient.

Again today in AEC the nurses and Dr Twaio were a credit to the hospital and the NHS. We left with a long journey ahead of us but reassured that the most amazing staff will look after us both. I can't thank you enough for looking after us both this weekend. NHS at its finest. Xxx

Can’t fault the maternity unit at all. I had my third baby at your hospital on the 10th may and all the staff were amazing. I had my other two children at another hospital and wanted to try Darent valley hospital as my 2nd birth experience wasn’t great at the previous hospital. I was worried about having my baby at the hospital as I had heard bad stories. I had been admitted during my pregnancy and was in and out of the hospital having checks due to lack of movement in this pregnancy. Every member of staff was very helpful and always made me feel at ease. I would highly recommend having a baby at darent valley . Thank u all that helped me throughout my pregnancy and labour. Ceder ward staff were all amazing too .

Thank you all.

The cleanliness of the A&E department last night was appalling!!

In the ladies toilets the sanitary bin was overflowing across the considerably wet floor alongside dirty toilet paper. My grandfather said that in the mens there was someones blood everywhere!

Not to mention the waiting room floor was also covered in litter and spilled drinks.

I notified the receptionist of this problem, particuarly the blood over the mens bathroom and it took 3 1/2 hours until someone came to sort it out.

The cleanliness was bad enough but the fact it took so long for someone to clean it is just awful and it concerns me that hygeine standards are clearly not being met

My partner is suffering with back pain, passing blood in his urine...went A&E Wednesday and the doctor just gave him antibiotics and told him to go on his way and to see his GP next week. Last night he was suffering still with the back pain, still passing blood and now was nauseous. Went to the GP out of hours as it was 11:30pm, explained the symptoms and told the type of antibiotics that was given. She was really lovely and advised that the previous doctor gave us antibiotics for a urine infection...even though he explained his symptoms Wednesday exactly the same as last night. Got taken to A&E again and waiting until 3:30am to be seen. My partner was in so much pain. He was on a drip and was very drowsy. The doctor we saw then advised us it maybe kidney stones. We had to come in 9am today for a CT scan and then wait for the results.



Came back at 9am and he had his CT scan then checked in to the waiting room at A&E again at 9:30am. Been told it would take an hour for the results to come in....but no was still waiting 3 hours. Went to the reception as the pain for my partner was unbearable and she told us were next...that was not the case at all! Spoke to another doctor which we had to explain again the symptoms! The doctor then told us it is a back muscle pain and told us to take pain killers and be on our way. What I do not understand is to why we have been told 3 different stories. Muscle pain does not affect passing blood in your urine at all.



This hospital is disgusting you do not see the same doctor every time and explain everything again and again. I do not believe this is not muscle pain at all. The hospital needs to get more decent staff who knows there job!

My great grandad got transferred here at the beginning of last month after waiting a week for a bed for a simple procedure. Then when he arrived my mum (his next of kin) received a phone call to be told there was nothing they could do, however if he hadn’t of waited the week in the first place his issue may of been treatable.

We spent much of our time by his bedside and in the time we was with him (5 days) not one doctor came to explain exactly what was wrong with grandad and what was going on.

Sadly we lost our grandad on the 10th May, however we have still not been able to register his death as all paperwork was incorrectly done so therefore we have lost the chance to see him at the chapel of rest as he is still stuck at DVH as no one seems to know what’s going on despite us chasing them up daily.

All we wish to do is lay our grandad to rest!! Absolutely disgusted with the way his whole care or lack of!! was dealt with and the fact we are nearly a month later and still not being able to arrange anything is a joke!!