Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Due to the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases locally, we are once again asking that all patients and visitors wear a face mask when in the hospital. Face masks are available from the main entrance on arrival. All our staff will also be wearing a face mask.

We are pleased to advise that both KIMS Hospital and our Medical Centre in Sevenoaks are open. Please continue to attend your appointments as normal.

We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls, so we ask that you do not contact the hospital to check if your appointment is still going ahead. Should we need to change your appointment, we will contact you in advance.

We are closely monitoring guidance and will update this web page with new information regularly.

We do not offer COVID-19 tests to members of the public. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 you will need to access a test via the NHS. For further information please see https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or call 119.

No, we are not treating any patients for COVID-19 at the hospital. We are testing every inpatient that comes to our hospital and we only admit patients for conditions unrelated to COVID-19.

Rest assured that keeping you safe remains our top priority. We closely follow and quickly adapt to the latest guidance from the Department of Health and Public Health England. We’ve put in a number of measures to keep our patients and staff safe whilst at the hospital. Find out how we keep patients safe.

Yes, although we advise that you don’t attend if you are experiencing symptoms.

Yes, although you must follow our pathway which involves taking a lateral flow test within 24 hours of admission, and showing the results of this test on arrival.

There is currently a very high demand for our imaging services, especially MRI scans. If your consultant refers you for a scan, please note that it may take up to two weeks from your initial consultation for this to take place.

Your consultant will be aware of this, and will book your follow-up appointment for an appropriate date, to ensure your scan results are available.

Urgent scans will be prioritised and managed according to our updated patient pathways.

Yes, we are pleased to welcome you as a private patient to KIMS Hospital.

We are offering virtual consultations where clinically appropriate. You can request a virtual consultation with our enquiries team, who will be able to confirm if it is appropriate. For some conditions, a physical examination will be necessary, and so you would still need to come into the hospital for your consultation. We are also booking virtual follow-up appointments where this is appropriate.

If you’re coming to us as an inpatient we’ll be asking you to take a lateral flow test within 24 hours of admission, and to show a negative result on arrival.

Please be aware patients who test positive for Covid before their admission date will have their procedure cancelled and re-dated. We therefore advise precautions are taken to minimise your risk including wearing face masks and restricting contact with others. We will provide you with more detail about where to get support if you have a positive result.

If you have a friend or relative who decides to wait for you while you undergo your procedure, please note that to help us remain a COVID-19 free site, we unfortunately can’t accommodate them within the hospital at this time. However, there are a some places nearby where they can pass the time between dropping you off and picking you up.

• Newnham Court Shopping Village, which is home to a number of shopping and eating facilities, including Notcutts Garden Centre,  Bricks Coffee House and the Greene King Pub and Restaurant, The Newnham Court Inn
• There are two Costa Coffee Shops nearby; one is in Next in Eclipse Park, and the other is in Tesco in Grove Green.
• The Early Bird pub in Grove Green.
• The nearby village of Bearsted is home to a beautiful village green, which has two popular restaurants; The White Horse and The Oak on the Green.
• In good weather, you might choose to visit nearby Mote Park for a walk by the lake.
• Maidstone Town Centre is also only a 5-10 minute drive away, and offers a range of coffee shops, restaurants and shops to enjoy while waiting.

So that we can protect the safety of our patients and staff, it is important for us to control the number of visitors as much as possible. Currently, we are permitting patients who are staying overnight to have up to two visitors between 3pm and 6pm. Visitors must sign in at the ward reception and wear a face mask at all times. Children under 16 are not currently permitted.

To avoid overcrowding in our waiting areas, we are asking outpatients to come alone where possible.

Currently the Physical Therapy team are offering a variety of approaches, including face to face, telephone and video appointments. This decision is based on a mix of clinical need, patient risk assessment and patient preference.