Rotary honours foster care couple
A COUPLE who have fosteredmore than 40 children and hardly taken a holiday in the past 25 years, have been recognised for their dedication. Norman and Doreen Springett, of Sutton
Road, were awarded Paul Harris Fellow- ships by the Maidstone River- side Rotary Club. It is one of the highest awards Rotary makes and usually goes to members of particularly long or distinguished service but can also be awarded to community members who fulfil the Rotary ideal of ‘Service above Self’. Norman, the club’s longest serving treasurer, and his wife were described by Rotary as “two of society’s unsung he- roes”. A citation said: “It is a privi-
lege for the club to recognise their dedication.” This year the couple managed
five days away together for the first time inmore than 15 years. Norman’s commitment to Maidstone Riverside Rotary
Screenings for older men
MEN reaching the age of 65 in Kent andMedway are being offered screening for a poten- tially life-threatening blood vessel condition. Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are caused when the aorta, the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the body, weakens and expands. Large aneurysms can be serious as they can burst – causing around 6,000 deaths in Eng- land andWales each year. Since the service started in
April more than 5,447 men in Medway and Kent have been screened with 108 small and 10 large aneurysms detected. More than 20 GP surgeries offer the service.
Doreen and Norman Springett (centre) with Lynn Mitchell, Rotary district governor, and Martin Carter, president ofMaidstone Riverside Rotary Club
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Club was described as “second to none”. Aspokesman said: “His attention to detail
and timeliness has bought accolades for his accounts and financial acumen on more than one occasion. “In addition to his role as treasurer, Nor-
man works tirelessly behind the scenes for every club function, giving up a lot of his spare time.” Doreen’s fellowship award was in recognition of her unstinting support for Norman and for her foster care work. The spokesman added: “For
25 years they have demon- strated the patience, commit- ment and passion to look after in excess of 40 foster children of different ages, temperaments and race.” Also on the awards night, Ro-
tary district governor Lynn Mitchell – its first female DG – spoke about her involvement in the Cambria Trust, which has re- stored a Thames sailing barge for sail training and educational purposes. Lynn is particularly keen on working with young carers and the maiden post-restoration voyage of Cambria included a group from the local Crossroads Care, sponsored by the Maid- stone Riverside club.
‘Despicable’ care of 78-year-old assault victim Howard claimed his mum’s mental
supportive. But the way mum was treated at hospital was absolutely dis- graceful.” Howard detailed the timetable of shame (his times are approximate): 1.10am Mrs Thomas arrives at hospi- tal 1.40 She was booked in 2.15 Seen by triage nurse 3.30 Nurse checks her vital signs - but only after her son’s complaint 5.15 Howard complained "vigor- ously" a doctor had not seen her. Orig- inal triage nurse cleans her wound and glues it 7.20 Doctor finally sees her. But Howard said: "I had to go to the doctors' desk
state was not checked. He added: "The shock was setting in and after four hours of waiting she had not even been given a cup of tea. "She was saying she wanted to go
Jean Thomas be- fore the brutal assault
and say, 'she has been here for over six hours, when are you going to see my mum, and he said, OK I'll see her now'. "They did not give a monkey's. They gave her a 10-minute once-over, an X-ray and sent her home. It was just horrendous.”
Award for breast cancer DVD A DVD produced by The Maidstone-based Kent Oncology Cen- tre radiotherapy team has won a prize for the best patient sup- port initiative. The team, led
by consultant oncologist Dr Russell Bur- combe, received the Pfizer Excel- lence in Oncol- ogy Award at the annual National Cancer Research Institute confer- ence. The DVD ex- plains, in straightforward terms, how breast radiotherapy is carried out, its purpose and possible side effects. Patients often do not take in or remember what they are
home and let her GP see her in the morning. So we had two hours of calm- ingmum down. "It was terrible, despicable." A spokesman forMaidstone and Tun- bridge Wells NHS Trust said: “We are sorry that Mrs Thomas had to wait for longer than we would have wished to see a doctor. “A&E at TunbridgeWells Hospital was
exceptionally busy that evening. “Mrs Thomas was immediately assessed, her condition was monitored and she was treated by senior nurses throughout her time in A&E.We ex- plained and apologised to her and her family about thewaittosee adoctor. “We have since revised the doctors’ rota in A&E at TWH to increase cover at busy times.”
Hospital news update by Dennis Fowle Private concerns
(L to r): David Dunlop, awards judges chairman; Russell Burcombe, Kent Oncol- ogy Centre; BBC’s Nick Owen, survivor of cancer, and Robert Day, Pfizer Oncology
told, and doctors often have to repeat the same information to different patients. The DVD overcomes this problem. A charitable donation of £10,000 from theMid Kent Breast Cancer Research Appeal made possible the filming, editing and production of 4,000 free copies for patients. The film can also be viewed on the Kent Oncology Centre website. The judges agreed that it is an important support for patients. “The initiative has received excellent feedback,” they said.
INCREASING private patient work will “not harm our NHS work,” says the trust. “It will bring important revenue to help improve NHS services.” About 30 single rooms at the new Pembury Hospital have been re- allocated to private work. But the Downs Mail hears reports of bed shortages and serious de- lays.
Survey result
THE trust says 89% of patients surveyed at the new Pembury Hospital were “highly satisfied”.
Car parking relief
ALL extra car parking at Pem- bury Hospital should be ready by Christmas.
Surgery expansion
A NEW centre of expertise for complex pre-planned surgery
To contact Downs Mail just phone 01622 630330
has been created at Maidstone Hospital “and is expanding the range of procedures its highly- skilled surgeons can provide”.
Temporary clinic
TRANSFER of the early preg- nancy assessment clinic from Maidstone Hospital to Pembury is “temporary”, says the trust. “We work with consultants
and GPs to look at how we can continue to maintain high stan- dards of care.” The clinic runs for two hours a day at Maid- stone. It was promised to remain at Maidstone in the maternity consultation period.
PFI support
THE trust hopes to receive ‘ex- ceptional external financial support’ for the £1.5m a month it must pay to the PFI providers of the new hospital at Pembury.
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