IT'S a new day, a new dawn and a fresh start for what can be a wonderful hospital. We know, and have always known, the staff at Darent Valley Hospital are fantastically caring and talented professionals. We know the uphill struggle each of them faced carrying out their duties and striving to deliver the hospital they know people deserve.
Despite the adversity, their talents and hope for the future have shone out like a beacon of hope for those who know Darent Valley can appear at the right end of the league tables.
An air of optimism now fills the corridors of the hospital and staff can once again feel confident their efforts will be recognised. The troubled Dartford hospital can now look to the future and says it wants "the best chief executive it can get".
And staff say the first step on the road to recovery, achieving the one star status ordered in the recent Department of Health recovery plan, is within their grasp.
The hospital has already achieved some of the targets in the plan including the reduction of breast cancer waiting times and patient complaints.
A hospital spokesman said whoever replaces Mrs Dean must have the "vision, leadership, drive and commitment to take the hospital forward".
He said: "The management team is continuing to work with the Primary Care Trust, West Kent Health Authority and Regional Office to deliver on the performance improvement targets set before the trust by the Department of Health.
"Action plans have already been drawn up and implemented which have already led to some improvements in key areas and will lead to further improvements being made by March 31 2002. We are confident the trust will achieve the minimum one star status by the deadline of the recovery plan December 31."
He added: "Darent Valley provides an excellent, modern environment for both patients and staff. The trust has a highly skilled and dedicated workforce combined with an award-winning new hospital building.
"With the support of the local community, our staff and health partners in care, we are confident we will become one of the best hospitals in the country."
November 13, 2001 15:08
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