A top health director was hauled before councillors over a series of major performance concerns.

Dr Adrian Richardson was asked to explain problems at the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).

These include waiting times, staff retention, worker dissatisfaction and people being asked to travel far for appointments.

Dr Richardson is director of partnerships and transformation for KMPT, which provides services for adult mental health and learning disabilities.

He was quizzed by Medway Council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday.

Members also raised concerns about out-of-area placements, and a large number of unfilled vacancies at the trust.

And they were told a staff survey had found nearly half of respondents did not feel the organisation would address concerns they raise.

Committee chairman Cllr Dan McDonald said: “We can’t just sit here and think this is acceptable from KMPT, because it isn’t.”

Members criticised the trust’s performance on waiting times for treatment of complex emotional difficulties, which was at least nine to 12 months, with many patients being asked to travel to centres outside of Medway for treatment.

Similarly, they raised concern at how Medway Maritime Hospital’s Ruby Ward, for patients with acute mental health needs, is being wound down and replaced with a new ward at Maidstone Hospital later this year.

The staff survey results for 2022 detailed workers’ feelings about their work environment, level of pay, interaction with managers and safety at work.

Of 2,346 respondents, out of 3,700 employees, only 516 said they never/rarely find their work emotionally exhausting.

Only 962 said they didn’t often think about leaving the organisation, and only 1,215 said they felt the organisation would address concerns raised by staff.

In June, one-fifth of the trust’s vacancies were unfilled and the service had a turnover rate of 18.23%.

Although Dr Richardson said these statistics were comparable with trusts across the country, Cllr McDonald said this was not reassuring and significant improvement was required.

Dr Richardson said a six-week dementia care backlog caused by the pandemic will be reduced to zero by the end of September.

And the trust had made changes to its recruitment practices in order to reduce the vacancy gap and turnover rates.

He also said the new Ruby Ward in Maidstone will be a purpose-built site to meet the advanced needs of dementia patients.

Members decided it would require KMPT to return to every committee for the foreseeable future until issues were substantially improved or resolved.

Speaking after the meeting, a KMPT spokesperson said: “Over recent years we have seen a rising and changing demand for all health services, including mental health, right across England.

“We are working hard to respond to this, in particular when it comes to improving services for people with dementia, and their loved ones.

“Earlier this year we published a new three-year strategy which places an emphasis on creating a culture where our staff can thrive and so provide the right care, in the right place, for those who need us.

“We welcome the opportunity to continue engaging with the committee to show how we are making this happen for the people of Medway.”