Darent Valley Hospital (DVH)

06/02/2026

We know that parking at Darent Valley Hospital can sometimes be difficult, particularly at busier times of the day. We understand how stressful this can be, especially when you are attending an appointment, visiting a loved one, or coming to hospital when you may already be feeling anxious or unwell.

We want to reassure you that we are aware of these challenges and are always looking at ways to reduce pressure on the site and improve the overall experience for patients and visitors.

Over recent years, we have taken steps to reduce congestion by moving some services and appointments to other local sites, such as Queen Mary’s Hospital and the North Kent Community Diagnostic Centre. This helps ensure that patients attending those services do not need to travel to Darent Valley Hospital unless necessary. We are also carefully planning appointment times to avoid peak periods, where possible, to help manage demand across the site.

We continue to explore further options to improve traffic flow and parking arrangements, and we will share updates as plans develop.

We truly value visitors and we know that our patients benefit greatly from receiving visits while they are in hospital. Where possible, visiting after 4.00pm can be helpful, as our car parks are generally less busy later in the day, which may make your journey and arrival at DVH easier.

Where you are able to do so, we kindly encourage patients and visitors to use public transport when travelling to the hospital. To help you plan your journey, you can visit https://kentconnected.org/ to find information on public transport options from where you live.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work to improve access to the hospital for everyone.

06/02/2026

National HIV Testing Week (NHTW) in England runs from 9–15 February 2026 and aims to increase regular testing, particularly among high-risk groups, to reduce undiagnosed cases and late diagnoses. As part of this, Darent Valley Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) is introducing routine HIV testing from Monday 9 February 2026.

From this date, everyone aged 16 and over who has routine blood tests in our ED will also be tested for HIV, unless they choose to opt out.

Early diagnosis of HIV is really important. Treatment is life-saving, highly effective, and free from the NHS.

What you need to know:

- HIV testing is offered when blood tests are needed during your A&E visit
- Testing is done using the same blood sample – no extra needles
- A negative result means HIV was not detected at the time of testing, and you will not be contacted
- All results are confidential
- Anyone with a confirmed positive result will be supported and cared for by specialist HIV teams at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells (MTW)
- You can decline the test at any time by letting a member of staff know
- Choosing not to have an HIV test will not affect your care

This initiative supports National HIV Testing Week, helping more people know their status, reduce stigma, and ensure anyone who needs treatment can access it early.

If you have any questions, please speak to a member of staff during your visit.

Learn more here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwl3GUpKr-M

04/02/2026

Today is World Cancer Day.

Cancer affects us all. Delivering the best outcomes for cancer patients is an absolute priority; we want every person with cancer to have the very best diagnosis, treatment and care. Today, the NHS has released the National Cancer Plan, which will:

- diagnose cancer earlier
- provide better treatments
- help people to live well
- focus on prevention

It will make England a world leader in cancer survival.
ℹ️ https://www.england.nhs.uk/cancer/about/

At Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, we are incredibly proud of our exceptional cancer services teams and everyone who supports them across our hospitals. Their expertise, compassion and dedication make a real difference to the lives of people facing cancer every day.
We also want to recognise our patients and their families. Your strength, resilience and individual journeys inspire our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible care and support.

02/02/2026

Line Closure Through Dartford – February Half-Term 2026

Rail services through Dartford will be affected on 7–8 February and 14–22 February due to planned engineering work. If you’re travelling, please check before you go and allow extra time.

More info:

From Saturday 14 February to Sunday 22 February (inclusive) the line through Dartford is closing for a £10m track upgrade. During the closure no Southeastern or Thameslink services will operate between Slade Green, Barnehurst, Crayford and Gravesend via Dartford. Accessible replacement buses will b...

01/02/2026

Adult Social Care Drop-In Clinic – Tuesday 24 February

Kent County Council’s Adult Social Care Connect Team will be in the Main Foyer (Level 2, outside M&S) from 10am–1pm.

Come along for advice, guidance, and information about support services for adults in our community.

30/01/2026

💙 Bringing paediatric MRI care closer to home 💙

For many years, the Trust has wanted to provide more specialist paediatric services locally for children and families.

In the past, many children who needed an MRI scan had to travel to specialist hospitals in London. This often caused worry for children and meant extra time, cost and stress for parents and carers.

We are pleased to share that a new paediatric MRI service is now available within the Trust. This means children can be seen closer to home, in the MRI 3T suite. It is the Trust’s first Advanced Nurse Practitioner-led MRI service and marks an important step forward in how we care for children.

The new pathway also uses the Kitten scanner, kindly donated by Dartford Lions in 2023/24. The scanner uses play to help children feel more relaxed and confident before their scan, which can reduce anxiety and often avoid the need for sedation.

This service has been made possible thanks to the hard work and commitment of teams across Paediatrics, Radiology and the Charity team, as well as the generous support of the Dartford Lions. Together, they have helped improve the experience of MRI scans for local children and their families.

29/01/2026

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust is very pleased to share that Olive Ward have achieved Silver award in the ward accreditation scheme.

Ward accreditation is a nationally recognised assessment that evaluates wards/units based on the CQC five domains; Safe, Caring, Effective, Responsive and Well-led. Each ward/unit is assessed against the CQC standards and awarded White, Bronze, Silver or Gold based on their performances.

Olive Ward achieved an overall score of 75% and equally achieved high scores in the five CQC domains:

• Safe – 82% Silver
• Caring – 95% Gold
• Effective – 66% Silver
• Responsive – 68% Silver
• Well-led – 55% Bronze

This achievement shows Olive Ward’s dedication and commitment in delivering high standard of care and patients experience. Well done to the team on Olive!

26/01/2026

📢 We're seeking a Team Leader for our Children's Hospital at Home Team (CHAHT) 📢

The CHAHT provide high-quality, family centered care to children and young people in their own homes, supporting early discharge and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions. The team are based at Darent Valley Hospital and operates 7 days a week including bank holidays from 8am-10pm.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and innovative lead nurse to join our Paediatric Service to work as part of our senior nursing team. This service supports the Paediatric service, including Paediatric Emergency Department (PED), Willow ward team and Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU).

👉 Learn more and apply here: https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/jobs #!/job/v7757569?_ts=28220013

📅 Closing date for applications: 6 February 2026 @ 23:59

25/01/2026

🚑 Our Emergency Department is extremely busy - please choose the right service for you🚑

Please remember: A&E is for serious and life-threatening emergencies only - like people with severe chest pains, serious head injuries, loss of consciousness or breathing difficulties.

If your condition is not an emergency, please help us by choosing a more suitable service. This ensures that people who truly need urgent care can be seen quickly. You can get fast, expert advice from:

💊 Your local pharmacy: https://www.kmhealthandcare.uk/pharmacy
📞NHS 111 – online or by phone: https://111.nhs.uk/
🏥Urgent Treatment Centres – for non-life-threatening conditions: https://www.kmhealthandcare.uk/urgent-care

By choosing the right service, you help keep A&E available for those who need it most.

Thank you for supporting Darent Valley Hospital and helping us care for our community.

25/01/2026

We need your help. Please share.

Darent Valley Hospital is currently extremely busy and we’re seeing very high numbers of patients who need urgent, life-saving care, coming through our A&E department.

Please remember: A&E is for serious and life-threatening emergencies only. If your condition is not an emergency, please help us by choosing a more suitable service. This ensures that people who truly need urgent care can be seen quickly.

You can get fast, expert advice from:

Your local pharmacy
NHS 111 – online or by phone
Urgent Treatment Centres – for non-life-threatening conditions
By choosing the right service, you help keep A&E available for those who need it most.

Thank you for supporting Darent Valley Hospital and helping us care for our community.