Darent Valley Hospital
NHS hospital · Dartford
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Darent Valley Hospital is an NHS hospital in Dartford, Kent, run by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. See whether it has an A&E, its phone number, visiting and how to get there.
At a glance
- A&E
- A&E open 24 hours
- Planned care wait
- Half waited less than 14 weeks (whole trust)
- CQC rating
- Good (published 23 December 2022)
- Telephone
- 01322 428100
Information checked 16 October 2026.
Urgent help
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. For urgent help that is not an emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111.
Waiting times at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
These figures are for the whole trust, including any other sites it runs, not just Darent Valley Hospital. Waits at this hospital may be shorter or longer.
A&E: time spent in A&E
74.3% of people who went to the trust’s major A&E departments in September 2026 were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours.
12,375 attendances. England average for major A&E departments: 60.6%. In an emergency, go to the nearest A&E or call 999.
Compare A&E waiting times at other hospitals.
Waiting for planned treatment
These are people who were still waiting at the end of August 2026 for non-urgent treatment led by a consultant, counted from the referral. The table shows the trust’s 5 specialties with the most people waiting. “Half waited less than” is the median wait. The NHS maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatment is 18 weeks.
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General surgery | 7,392 | 15 weeks | 50 weeks | 56.1% |
| Trauma and orthopaedics | 5,002 | 18 weeks | 48 weeks | 50.8% |
| Gynaecology | 4,595 | 16 weeks | 44 weeks | 55.6% |
| Urology | 3,110 | 10 weeks | 37 weeks | 70% |
| Gastroenterology | 2,202 | 12 weeks | 31 weeks | 65.6% |
| All specialties | 30,105 | 14 weeks | 43 weeks | 61% |
Show all 11 specialties at this trust
| Specialty | People waiting | Half waited less than | 92 in 100 waited less than | Waiting under 18 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiology | 1,975 | 15 weeks | 37 weeks | 61% |
| Neurology | 1,275 | 13 weeks | 29 weeks | 66.1% |
| Respiratory medicine | 1,131 | 13 weeks | 30 weeks | 68.3% |
| General internal medicine | 724 | 13 weeks | 32 weeks | 67.5% |
| Children's services (paediatrics) | 568 | 4.3 weeks | 12 weeks | 98.1% |
| Elderly medicine | 378 | 8.2 weeks | 21 weeks | 89.2% |
If your GP refers you, in most cases you have the legal right to choose which hospital you go to for your first appointment. Compare waiting times at hospitals near you.
Source: NHS England, Consultant-led Referral to Treatment Waiting Times (August 2026, published 8 October 2026) and A&E Attendances and Emergency Admissions (September 2026). Official statistics for the trust as a whole. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence.
Procedures at this hospital
Published figures for Darent Valley Hospital from national audits and NHS statistics, from the UK Hospitals Guide. Each guide page explains what the figures mean and compares hospitals in the South East. This is not a ranking.
Figures for this hospital
- Hip replacement
618Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the South East: 629400 to 749. NJR outlier analysis (90-day mortality and revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Knee replacement
618Joint replacements, all joints, 2025 (NJR)
Middle hospital in the South East: 629400 to 749. NJR outlier analysis (revision rates): Not identified as an outlier - Hip fracture surgery
274People treated for a hip fracture, 2025 (NHFD)
Middle hospital in the South East: 473Fewer than 300. Deaths within 30 days (case-mix adjusted): 9% - Emergency bowel surgery (emergency laparotomy)
135Emergency laparotomies, NELA year 11
Middle hospital in the South East: 138100 to 149. Deaths within 30 days (risk-adjusted): Within the 95% funnel limits - Stroke care
209Stroke patients, January to March 2026 (SSNAP)
Middle hospital in the South East: 175.5Stroke team. 150 to 249. SSNAP level (A is highest, E lowest): Level D
Figures for the whole trust
These are published for the trust as a whole. The operation may be done at another of its hospitals.
- Bowel cancer surgery Major bowel cancer operations, 2024 (NBOCA): 100 to 149 (114). Deaths within 90 days of surgery (adjusted): 2.7%
- Breast cancer surgery Women having breast cancer surgery, 2021 to 2023 (NAoPri): 600 to 999 (780). Further operation after breast-conserving surgery (adjusted): 19.8%
- Carpal tunnel release treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 750 to 1,499
- Lumbar decompression (lower back surgery) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 150 to 399
- Coronary artery bypass graft (heart bypass) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 750 to 1,499
- Coronary angioplasty and stents treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 750 to 1,499
- Varicose vein treatment treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 600 to 1,499
- Inguinal hernia repair treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 2,499
- Gallbladder removal treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,000 to 1,999
- Haemorrhoid (piles) surgery
- Weight loss surgery
- Cataract surgery treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 1,500
- Tonsil removal (tonsillectomy) treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: fewer than 1,000
- Hysterectomy treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 1,500 to 1,999
- Giving birth and caesarean section treatments across all the trust’s hospitals: 4,000 to 4,999
- Prostate surgery for an enlarged prostate (TURP)
- Kidney stone treatment
Sources: national clinical audits (NJR, NHFD, NELA, SSNAP, NATCAN, NVR) and NHS England statistics, under the Open Government Licence or CC BY 4.0. Data updated 26 October 2026.
Opening times
Opening days and times
Hospital wards are staffed 24 hours a day. The A&E department is open 24 hours a day, every day.
Outpatient clinics, tests and scans run at set times. Your appointment letter or text message tells you when and where to go.
See Visiting for visiting times.
A&E status: NHS England emergency care data (Emergency Care Data Set, August 2026).
Appointments and access
First outpatient appointments
To see a specialist at an NHS hospital, you usually need a referral, for example from your GP, dentist or optometrist.
In most cases you have the right to choose which hospital you are referred to for your first outpatient appointment.
Your referral is usually booked through the NHS e-Referral Service. You can then manage it in the NHS App or on the NHS website.
Some services let you refer yourself, such as maternity care.
If you already have an appointment, use the phone number on your appointment letter.
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Contact
Main telephone
Telephone: 01322 428100
Contact the hospital to book or to ask about appointments.
Location and travel
Address and map
Darent Valley Hospital
Darenth Wood Road
Dartford
DA2 8DA
Find care near here
Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026.
Car parking
On-site parking is available. From 1 August 2026 charges are £2.00 for up to 1 hour, £3.00 up to 2 hours, £5.00 up to 4 hours and £12.50 up to 24 hours, with a weekly pass at £32.00.
Blue Badge holders park free of charge.
From the hospital's car parking page, checked 15 November 2026. Charges and car park rules can change, so check before you travel.
NHS hospitals in England must offer free car parking to Blue Badge holders who are patients or visitors, outpatients who attend at least 3 times in a month for at least 3 months, the parent or guardian of a child under 18 staying in overnight (7.30pm to 8am, up to 2 vehicles) and staff working night shifts. Ask the hospital how to claim it, as you may need to register your vehicle.
Source: NHS car parking guidance, Department of Health and Social Care (updated 29 March 2022), checked 15 November 2026.
Facilities
We do not have details of step-free access, parking or other facilities here yet. If you need them, contact the hospital before you go.
Visiting
Visiting times
General adult ward visiting is 11am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm, with a maximum of 2 visitors at a bedside at a time. Maternity visiting differs.
From the hospital's visiting page, checked 15 November 2026.
Book, change or complain
- Book or manage your first outpatient appointment
- Patient advice (PALS) and other contact details
- This hospital on the NHS website
- Manage your referral (NHS e-Referral Service)
- What the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) does
- Read inspection reports (CQC)
- Get an email when CQC inspects this hospital
- Tell CQC about your care
- Find your local Healthwatch
About this hospital
| Provider | Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust |
|---|---|
| Type | NHS hospital |
| NHS or private | NHS |
| Local authority | Dartford |
More details
| NHS organisation code | RN707 |
|---|---|
| CQC location ID | RN707 |
We do not have a website address for this hospital yet.
Hospital services
CQC lists these regulated service types at this location:
- Diagnosis/screening
- Hospital
- Hospitals - Mental health/capacity
Service types are regulatory categories, not a full list of departments. Being registered for a service does not always mean it is running now. Check with the hospital.
Regulation and quality
This location is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The latest published ratings are below.
| Area | Rating | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Good | 23 December 2022 |
| Caring | Good | 24 June 2022 |
| Effective | Good | 24 June 2022 |
| Responsive | Good | 24 June 2022 |
| Safe | Requires improvement | 23 December 2022 |
| Well-led | Good | 23 December 2022 |
Some areas were last rated in an earlier inspection, so the dates differ.
Read the CQC report for Darent Valley Hospital
Frequently asked questions
What is the telephone number for Darent Valley Hospital?
Telephone: 01322 428100.
Is there parking at Darent Valley Hospital?
On-site parking is available. From 1 August 2026 charges are £2.00 for up to 1 hour, £3.00 up to 2 hours, £5.00 up to 4 hours and £12.50 up to 24 hours, with a weekly pass at £32.00. Blue Badge holders park free of charge. Checked 15 November 2026.
What are the visiting hours at Darent Valley Hospital?
General adult ward visiting is 11am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm, with a maximum of 2 visitors at a bedside at a time. Maternity visiting differs. Checked 15 November 2026; wards can change their times, so check before you go.
What is the CQC rating of Darent Valley Hospital?
The latest overall CQC rating is Good, published 23 December 2022.
Nearby hospitals
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The Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury
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About 19.9 miles away
Distances are straight-line estimates from postcode locations.
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Printed from https://ukhospitals.uk/hospital/darent-valley-hospital/ on 15 November 2026.