Kent & Medway NHS – What Matters Most?
Survey Closes 9am on Tuesday 1st September 2026
NHS Kent and Medway is developing its commissioning intentions for 2027/28. These set out how local NHS services could change over the next few years to improve health outcomes, reduce health inequalities and make the best use of limited resources. The proposals are informed by extensive involvement with residents, staff, voluntary organisations and partners through our ‘what matters most’ programme, which reached almost 650,000 people and heard directly from more than 1,600 residents, staff and stakeholders.
Help us to understand whether these proposals reflect what matters most to local people and focus on the right priorities for the future. More information is available on our website, along with a survey.
Why change is needed
Across Kent and Medway:
- more people are living longer and living with multiple long-term health conditions
- demand for health and care services continues to grow
- health inequalities remain significant, with some communities experiencing poorer health outcomes and shorter life expectancy
- more people need support with their mental health and wellbeing
- the NHS faces significant financial and workforce pressures and must make the best use of the resources available.
To respond to these challenges, the NHS is proposing a greater focus on:
- prevention and helping people stay well for longer
- providing more care closer to home and in neighbourhoods
- improving access to services and reducing waiting times
- better joined-up care between different services and organisations
- reducing unwarranted variation in care and tackling health inequalities.
What we are asking communities
We would like to hear what local people think about the proposed commissioning intentions and whether they reflect the priorities that matter most to them.
We want to understand:
- Are we focusing on the right priorities to improve health and care?
- Do the proposals reflect what people have previously told us matters most?
- Are there communities or groups whose needs are not being considered sufficiently?
- Are we making the right shift towards prevention, neighbourhood health and care closer to home?
- What opportunities or concerns do people see in these plans?
National Highways & Transport Network – Public Satisfaction Surveys
These surveys close on 28 February 2027.
This year, for the ninth year running, Kent County Council is taking part in the NHT Public Satisfaction Survey on highways and transport services. Whilst the main survey is being carried out by Ipsos, who are sending forms to a representative sample of households, we have also opted to take part in six web-based surveys on specific issues:
- Highway maintenance
- Accessibility
- Walking and cycling
- Public transport
- Road safety
- Tackling congestion
These surveys are publicly available online, and will remain open until the end of February 2027.
To access the surveys, please click here
MBC – Polling Districts & Places Review 2026
Closes 19th August 2026
The review will look at whether current polling places and stations are appropriate, in the right locations and are easy for people to access and use. It aims to make sure that voting is straightforward and convenient for everyone.
Residents are encouraged to share their experiences of using local polling stations in as much detail as possible. The council is particularly interested in hearing about any barriers people may face when voting, with the aim to put provisions in place to ensure that everyone visits and uses polling stations.
Feedback can include:
- where you vote
- parking and access
- accessibility for people with disabilities
- suggestions for alternative venues
The suitability of polling stations is assessed along with their accessibility, facilities for voters and, in particular, for those with a disability.
The survey seeks feedback on the proposals to change or move polling stations.
To access the survey please click here
KCC Budget Consultation 2027-28
Consultation closes 7th September 2026
Every year Kent County Council (KCC) must agree a balanced budget. This means making sure the money we spend on services is fully covered by the money we receive from Council Tax, Government grants, a share of Business Rates, and some service charges.
We provide a wide range of services to Kent’s 1.6 million residents, spending over £2.8 billion each year. We are responsible for many of the services that affect people’s daily lives across the whole of Kent. These include things like social care for children and adults, support for education, waste disposal, public health, libraries and roads. These services support people every day, especially those who need extra help.
Although we have reduced debt by £142 million and made savings, we still face serious financial pressures.
Demand for services is rising, especially in children’s services and adult social care. At the same time, costs are increasing due to inflation and higher energy prices.
Global events and international tensions are also affecting the wider economy. This is pushing up the cost of energy, supplies and contracts. These pressures affect both the cost of delivering council services and household budgets.
As we plan the 2027-28 budget, we will need to make difficult decisions about service priorities and Council Tax.
MBC – Residents Survey 2026
Consultation Closes: 30th August 2026.
We’re inviting residents to share their views on living in Maidstone as part of our Resident Survey 2026.
We want to hear about your day-to-day experience of living here, from your local neighbourhood to the services you use and rely on.
What matters to you most in your local area?
Your feedback will help shape future services, priorities and investment across the borough.
The survey takes just 9–12 minutes to complete and covers topics including:
– Local communities
– Health and wellbeing
– Parks and green spaces
– Opportunities and skills
– Council services
As a thank you, everyone who completes the survey will receive a 15% discount at Go Ape, Leeds Castle and will be entered into a prize draw to win a range of local prizes.
Food Waste 2026 Survey
Consultation Closes: 2nd August 2026.
Maidstone’s “Love Food, Hate Waste” campaign has reached out to hundreds of residents over the years, helping them to save money and reduce their food waste by smart shopping, suitable storage and using up leftovers. Where this is not possible, recycling food waste in the 23L caddy is a simple way for residents to reduce waste, do something positive in the community and reduce their carbon footprint.
Eighteen months ago we relaunched separate food waste collection system, focusing on individual houses, by promoting a food caddy package and associated advertising.
The results are good over the last year our food waste tonnage has risen by over 50% – thousands of residents are now taking part ensuring their food waste is removed every week with an environmental benefit. The material is treated in an AD (Anaerobic Digestion) plant, the process generates power for the national grid and a liquid fertiliser used on local farming land.
In order to further refine the system, we have decided to rerun the consultation, to find out how residents feel now about the food waste collection system.
How to get involved
MBC – New Local Plan – Call for Sites 2026
Submission window: 15 June 2026 to 11:59pm on 23 August 2026.
The Call for Sites is an important early stage in preparing a New Local Plan for the borough of Maidstone. It provides an opportunity for landowners, developers, community organisations, members of the public and other stakeholders to submit sites that they believe may be suitable for a wide range of uses to meet the borough’s future needs, including, but not limited to:
- Housing and other residential development (including affordable, specialist housing, as well as sites for Gypsy and Traveller pitches and Travelling Showpeople plots);
- Employment and commercial uses;
- Retail and leisure uses;
- Community facilities and infrastructure;
- Green spaces
If you have or know of land that you would like the council to consider for inclusion in the New Local Plan, please submit your site via this link: New Local Plan: Call For Sites 2026 | Lets Talk Maidstone
Help shape a safer Maidstone – Discussion Group
Maidstone Borough Council is working with Involve to launch Maidstone Together: A Community Discussion.
This is your chance to be part of genuine discussion and real decision making about how to make our borough safer for everyone.
It’s a space where residents come together, share experiences, hear from experts, and develop recommendations that will directly shape Maidstone Borough’s strategy on violence against women and girls.
We will have 36 residents taking part. These participants will be carefully selected from people who volunteer themselves, to ensure they represent the different groups across our local population. To create the safest environment for discussing sensitive topics, the process involves small groups based on age and gender (women, men, teenage girls, and teenage boys). All groups welcome and include trans and non-binary people.
If you are aged 16-18, we will also need you to share the contact details of a parent, guardian or carer to provide their consent for you to take part.
If you are from a local community organisation you can complete the sign up form on behalf of someone else if they have asked for support.
Get involved: https://www.involve.org.uk/news-opinion/project-updates/help-shape-safer-maidstone
Kent Police & My Community Voice
Maidstone Town Team have been working towards reducing violence within the Town Centre. As part of this we would like to hear your views. The below link will take you to a short questionnaire which takes no longer than a couple of minutes to fill out. It is completely anonymous and the results will help guide Kent Police in relation to project work.
My Community Voice
My Community Voice is a messaging service that helps Kent and Medway residents, businesses, and community groups to keep in touch with their local policing teams. The service sends updates about your local area directly from the police officers themselves.
My Community Voice is more than just a messaging service; it allows you to reply to the alerts we send you, share information and tell us about the issues affecting you.
We are committed to engaging with communities to increase trust and confidence and to help protect people from harm. Police, partners and the public working together can build resilient and safe communities, and both reduce and prevent crime.
You will be able to play an active part in police appeals as well as keeping updated in what is happening in your local area.