Darent Valley Hospital (DVH)

28/04/2026

The Accreditation Team at Darent Valley Hospital is absolutely delighted to share a fantastic news!

The Heart Centre has achieved an outstanding OVERALL accreditation score of 90% GOLD; a truly remarkable accomplishment.

Their results across the five CQC domains are especially impressive:

Safe: 94% GOLD

Caring: 87% GOLD

Effective: 92% GOLD

Responsive: 91% GOLD

Well-led: 78% SILVER

Introduced across the Trust in 2019, the accreditation programme is a nationally recognised assessment aligned with the Care Quality Commission’s quality domains: Safe, Caring, Effective, Responsive and Well-led. It provides a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of care within wards, units or departments. The process includes detailed reviews of the environment, staff interviews, patients experience, documentation and six months performance data. A number of assessors from different areas of the hospital along with a patient representative, carried out the assessment.

This achievement is a powerful reflection of the team’s dedication, consistency and commitment to delivering safe, high-quality care. It also highlights strong leadership and the impact of effective teamwork.

A huge congratulations to the Heart Centre team. This is something to be incredibly proud of!

The award was presented by our Chief Nurse, Diane Gambrell and the department will be attending the next Trust Board to celebrate their amazing achievement.

27/04/2026

On ANZAC Day, we’re reflecting on an important part of Dartford’s local hospital history.

During the First World War, The Orchard Hospital became the No. 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, caring for Australian soldiers who were being treated far from home.

The site later played a role during the Second World War, when it was taken over by the Army following the evacuation of civilian patients.

It’s a reminder of Dartford’s long‑standing role in care, recovery and support during times of conflict.

🔗 Find out more about The Orchard Hospital:
https://dartfordhospitalhistories.org.uk/orchard/orchard-introduction-2/

24/04/2026

World Immunisation Week celebrates the lifesaving power of vaccines and their role in protecting people of all ages from serious, vaccine‑preventable diseases.

If you’d like to learn more about the vaccines you or your family may be eligible for, visit
👉 www.GetVaccinatedNow.co.uk

Getting vaccinated helps protect you and those around you. 💙

22/04/2026

Kent County Council, Adult Social Care Connect (ASCC) is hosting a drop-in service in the main foyer at Darent Valley Hospital over the coming months.

They are a single point of access supporting adults to look after themselves, stay independent and connected. The service is free, no appointment is needed.

They'll be with us on the following dates:

📅 Tuesday 27th January 2026 10am-1pm
📅 Tuesday 24th February 2026 10am-1pm
📅 Tuesday 24th March 2026 10am-1pm
📅 Tuesday 28th April 2026 10am-1pm
📅 Tuesday 26th May 2026 10am-1pm

Learn more about the service here: https://kent.connecttosupport.org/

You can also complete an online self-assessment here: https://www.kent.gov.uk/ or call 03000 416161, Monday to Friday between the hours of 8.30am-5.00pm to speak with a member of the team.

Get answers to common questions, and information and advice to help you look after yourself, stay independent and connect within Kent.

21/04/2026

Under 20 and live or work in Dartford?

The friendly NHS team at Overy Street Clinic offers confidential sexual health care, including contraception, STI testing and treatment.

Free, confidential clinics every Tuesday, 3pm – 5pm.

No booking needed – just walk in.

18/04/2026

NHS Talking Therapies can treat common anxiety conditions.

If you’re struggling with obsessions and compulsions, anxiety in social situations, flashbacks of a traumatic event – or with panic attacks, obsessing about your appearance, or a phobia – being able to get on with your life again is cause for celebration.

NHS Talking Therapies treatment is effective, confidential and free. It gives you practical skills and techniques to overcome a range of mental health conditions like OCD, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and phobias.

Find out more, or refer yourself at nhs.uk/talk.

17/04/2026

Huge congratulations to Linden Ward for achieving an overall score of 73% (SILVER) in their accreditation.

The team has also demonstrated significant improvement across all 5 CQC domains;

Safe: SILVER
Caring: SILVER
Effective: SILVER
Responsive: SILVER
Well-led: SILVER

Accreditation is a nationally recognised assessment that evaluates wards and units against the five CQC domains: Safe, Caring, Effective, Responsive and Well-Led. This programme highlights the quality of care delivered while supporting a culture of continuous improvement.

This achievement is a testament to the team’s dedication and commitment to delivering high quality care and good patient experience. It also reflects strong leadership and effective teamwork.

Once again, congratulations to the Linden team on this outstanding accomplishment.

17/04/2026

Have you, or an immediate family member, ever served in the UK Armed Forces?
Letting our staff know helps us understand your needs and ensure you can access appropriate support.

Find out more on our website: https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/armed-forces-community

17/04/2026

The Accreditation Team at Darent Valley Hospital is absolutely delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievement of the Acute Medical Unit following their recent accreditation success!

The team achieved an impressive overall score of 76% (SILVER); a fantastic accomplishment. Their performance across the five CQC domains is equally commendable:

Safe: SILVER
Caring: GOLD
Effective: SILVER
Responsive: BRONZE
Well-led: GOLD

Accreditation is a nationally recognised assessment that evaluates wards and units against the five CQC domains: Safe, Caring, Effective, Responsive and Well-led. This programme not only recognises the quality of care delivered but also ensures consistency across all areas of the hospital.

This remarkable achievement truly reflects the teams’ dedication and hard work. It is also a clear demonstration of strong leadership and exceptional teamwork.

A huge congratulations to the entire team!

16/04/2026

On Wednesday 15 April, we were proud to celebrate colleagues who have reached remarkable long service milestones of 20, 30 and 40 years with Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust.

The Long Service Awards event recognised the dedication, commitment and professionalism of staff who have made an incredible contribution to patient care and to our organisation over many years. Their hard work, loyalty and experience continue to make a real difference to our services and to the communities we serve.

Well done and thank you to all those recognised – your commitment to the Trust is truly appreciated, and we are grateful for everything you do.

15/04/2026

Today marks a major step forward for maternity care at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust as we go live with the K2 Maternity Information System. Meaning that our maternity service users will now be able to record and access their maternity information via the digital patient portal, My Pregnancy Notes.

With fully digital maternity notes, the service user is placed at the centre of their care during pregnancy, birth and beyond. Safe, high quality maternity care requires a multi-professional team working together. The new system enables our teams to share relevant information at the touch of a button. Ultimately, digital transformation supports day-to-day work, allowing the team to focus on providing the highest standards of care.

Our maternity teams now have a single, real-time view of each patient’s journey, from antenatal through to postnatal care. That means clearer information, better coordination, and ultimately safer, faster decisions for mums and babies.

Moving from paper to a fully integrated system is a big change, and while there have been some challenges along the way, the team has delivered something genuinely impactful, across a complex multi-trust programme.

This is just the beginning, with three more trusts in Kent and Medway to follow. A huge thank you to everyone who made this happen and to the teams now bringing it to life in practice.