15 April 2026
Joint chair appointed to lead Kent and Medway mental and community health trusts
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust have appointed Colin Lynch as their new joint chair.
14 April 2026
Generous donation to support young people at Kent and Medway Adolescent Hospital
Young people receiving care at Kent and Medway Adolescent Hospital are benefiting from a generous donation to mark the launch of a newly integrated mental health service across Kent and Medway.
10 April 2026
Embedding occupational therapy in GP practices is cutting demand and building patient trust
A 45% reduction in GP appointments and a 57% drop in emergency department visits have been achieved after Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust integrated an occupational therapist into primary care multidisciplinary teams supporting a group of 10 local GP surgeries.
08 April 2026
Patients in Kent and Medway gain 24/7 online access to mental health appointments
Patients in Kent and Medway can now access their mental health appointments online through My Health and Care Record (MHCR), giving them 24/7 access to essential appointment information.
02 April 2026
Mental health patients find calm with reptile therapy in Kent and Medway
Geckos, bearded dragons, tortoises and snakes have become an unexpected part of care at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, where a new reptile assisted therapy programme has been running on its hospital wards in Maidstone.
01 April 2026
One Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust for everyone
For the first time, everyone in Kent and Medway will now be supported by one local NHS mental health trust, marking a new chapter in care.
31 March 2026
Resident doctor’s strike action
The British Medical Association has announced that resident doctors will take part in a 6-day strike from 7am on Tuesday 7 April to 6.59am on Monday 13 April 2026.
24 March 2026
Liaison psychiatry innovation delivers faster mental health care in Kent and Medway EDs
Patients presenting to emergency departments in Kent and Medway are now being seen faster for mental health assessment, following changes to liaison psychiatry services.
23 March 2026
Interim Chief People Officer appointed to Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
Ali Layne Smith has been appointed Interim Chief People Officer for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, following the planned retirement of Sandra Goatley, who steps down on 10 April after 10 years with the trust.
20 March 2026
Outbreak of Meningitis B in East Kent
There is currently an outbreak of meningococcal disease (MenB) in Kent with 29 identified cases and unfortunately 2 deaths.
19 March 2026
Disability inclusion recognised with highest accreditations
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has achieved Level 3 Disability Confident Leader status, the highest level in the UK Government’s Disability Confident scheme.
18 March 2026
Supplier partnerships generate major social value across Kent and Medway
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is emerging as one of the NHS’s leading examples of how procurement can deliver real environmental and community benefits, after a major overhaul of how it works with suppliers.
17 March 2026
Board and executive changes ahead for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has announced upcoming Board and executive changes as current tenures come to an end and has set out simple plans to ensure a smooth transition in the months ahead.
16 March 2026
Trust launches campaign to improve care for neurodivergent patients
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is supporting ‘Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026’ with a week-long campaign designed to improve understanding of neurodiversity and help provide more inclusive care for neurodivergent patients.
12 March 2026
NHS first: Kent and Medway trust digitally records peer support outcomes
Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust has become the first NHS trust in the UK to digitally record the outcomes of peer support, introducing new tools that capture the impact peer support workers have on people’s recovery.
Care Quality Commission lifts safety notice for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
The Care Quality Commission has lifted the safety notice issued to Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust’s community services last year, after inspectors confirmed that the trust had delivered improvements across its community mental health teams.
11 March 2026
Digital team to develop their own app to support patient wellbeing
Our Digital team and clinical colleagues recently won the Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex Hackathon, where frontline NHS teams had the chance to design real-world digital health solutions.
06 March 2026
Kent and Medway training programme shortlisted for Dementia Friendly Kent Award
A system wide training programme that supports timely, consistent and proportionate diagnosis of advanced dementia, particularly for people living in care homes, has been shortlisted for a Dementia Friendly Kent Award.
