Once ranked one of the worst performing A&E units in the country, the department at Medway Maritime Hospital is now hitting national targets following a programme of improvements.

In the second week of April, almost 97% of patients were seen and discharged within four hours, placing them in the top 20 best performing emergency departments in England - the target is 95%.

Six months previously, only 80.5% of patients were seen within four hours and Medway’s A&E was rated the second worst in the country by patients in a survey.

Throughout April and the first week of May, the department has been consistently dealing with more than 90% of patients within the four hour target.

As well as implementing new processes and systems, the department has been undergoing a series of restructuring work funded by £13.4m from the Department of Health.

The children’s emergency department opened in December 2014 and there has been 7,500 admissions since. It is now operating 24-hours a day.

Watch: Improvements at Medway Hospital

Mia Wilson, 10, who waiting to hear the results of an x-ray said she enjoyed having a separate children’s area.

The Balfour Junior School pupil said: “I just came her because I hurt my leg and I thought we would have to wait so long because in that other on we had to wait a long time, but I came in here and I got really surprised. I’ve seen a nurse and a doctor and another nurse already.”

Phase two is underway transforming the main reception and minor injuries department. This is due to be completed in early 2016.

The new chief executive Lesley Dwyer starts on Monday and Shena Winning was appointed as the trust’s chairman in September last year. Chief Operating Officer Morag Jackson also joined the board late last year.

The hospital has embarked on an 18-month improvement plan and Mrs Jackson is confident that A&E is on track to being stable in April 2016.

She said: “Whilst we’ve made big changes we’re not at all complacent, we’ve still got a long way to go to be assured that all patients receive the high quality care they deserve.

“But we have a plan and we’re confident in the future we will get there.”

The Medway NHS Foundation Trust was placed in special measures in February 2013 and a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2014 rated the Trust as inadequate.

But the hospital has been partnered with one of the country’s leading NFS foundation trusts and staff from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London are supporting the new leadership team at Medway.