Latest health news from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Hospital redundancy offer Tiger toys for


young patients ONE of Maidstone’s newest shops has delivered a selection of their toys and artmaterials to the children’s ward at Maid- stone Hospital. Mark Langley, manager of


TigerMaidstone, handed over a collection of jigsaws and art and craft supplies to patients. He said: “We hope that these


Tiger toys and games will brighten up children’s visits to the unit.” Ward manager for the River-


bank Unit, Mary-Ellen Gordon, said: “It will certainly help make our patients’ time here much more enjoyable.”


A&E targets DOWNS Mail has discovered another reason why Maidstone area residents should be taken to Maidstone Hospital A&E whenever possible. In the last 12 months Maid-


stone has beaten the 95% A&E target of four hours from arrival to exit every month, while Tun- bridge Wells Hospital, in Pem- bury, has missed it every month. A response to a Downs Mail Freedom of Information Act re- quest shows Maidstone fluctu- ated between 95.2% in February and 99.1% in May. Tunbridge Wells was as low as 85.6% in February with a best of 92.6% in August. Patients say ambulances too often take them to Pembury when they should be seen at Maidstone.


ALL staff working atMaidstone Hospital have been asked if they want to apply for voluntary re- dundancy. Some 4,000 staff have been approached across the board in the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, although no offers have been made directly to any member of staff. The trust claims its priority remains a commitment to the quality of patient care and says it is unlikely that applications from staff who directly care for patients will be accepted. This covers a host of posts, ac- cording to a hospital spokesman, which could include nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, radiol-


ogists, departmental reception staff, etc. - while those who do not deal directly with staff could be people in roles such as ad- ministration, research, finance and communications. The trust,which needs to save


at least £15m each year for the next three years, has asked all staff to consider their personal circumstances, however, and to make an application if they wish to do so. “Submitting an application


does not mean that the re- quested voluntary severance will be agreed,” said a spokesman. “Each applicationwill be con- sidered on its merits.”


Birthing centre’s good first year WHEN the midwife-led birthing centre opened at Maidstone Hos- pital in the midst of local controversy, about 200 births were fore- cast in year one – but the 392ndwas reached during a celebratory first birthday party, as compliments flowed. The centre has


four bedrooms – three with double beds to accommo- date partners, and two main delivery rooms (both offer- ing water births and other labour aids). A kitchen is big enough to cope with a family meal, and another room opens on to a relaxing garden created in her own time by midwife Louise Paddison. Most women are in and out of the centre with new babies within


Highlight of the party was a cake made by midwives Zoe Manclark and Debbie Dale


24 hours, but for some it’s as quick as six hours. The unit is geared up for anticipated uncomplicated births and, while 35 per cent of first-time mothers can expect to be transferred in labour to a full maternity unit in a nearby hospital, almost all second and subse- quent births are completed at Maidstone. The unit is staffed by two duty midwives and a support worker. Consultant midwife and unit head Sarah Gregson praised the team for the successful launch and said theywanted to be ambassadors for midwife-led care.


Call to keep 999 journeys local By Dennis Fowle


MAIDSTONE area emergency patients are still complaining they are being taken 18 miles to the TunbridgeWells Hospital in Pembury when they feel they should be treated closer to home in Maidstone. MP Helen Grant has taken up


their case with Glenn Douglas, chief executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Mr Douglas wrote back, saying: “Our clinical teams con- tinue to work closely with South East Ambulance Service to ensure every patientwho can be seen and treated at Maid- stone Hospital in an emergency is treated there when an ambu- lance is called. “Patients with routine and


24 Town


uncomplicated fractures can be treated atMaidstone Hospital or stabilised and transferred to Tunbridge Wells if more seri- ous.


“We will further clarify with SECAMB that emergency calls for patients who appear to have a routine/uncomplicated fracture can be treated atMaidstone. “Many fractures can be com- plicated and require specialist orthopaedic care. In these in- stances, the ambulance service


Dennis Fowle, president of DownsMail,was re-electedchair- man ofMASH (Maidstone Action for Services inHospital)at thean- nual meeting. He has been a localhealth campaigner formore than 10 years. Contact MASH on www.mashmaidstone.co.uk


will err on the side of caution and, if a serious injury is sus- pected, take the patient to Tun- bridgeWells Hospital. “If the fracture is then found


to be less serious following X- ray examination, the patient is stabilised, discharged and seen as an outpatient at Maidstone Hospital’s fracture clinic, keep- ing on-going care as close to home as possible.” He welcomes information if Maidstone patients believe they should have been treated in their local hospital. The Downs Mail keeps a


watch on the level of activity in both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells A&E departments and does not now have the deep concerns of lastwinter about an imbalance.


The trust says it has agreed


the approach with the trade unions and the scheme reflects similar schemes nationally. “There is no ‘cull’,” said the spokesman. “The trust values all staff. However, the offer of a volun- tary severance package may ap- peal to some members of staff who were considering a career change or may wish to have a break from working.” The amount of voluntary sev- erance pay awarded depends upon a number of issues unique to the member of staff making the application, including length of service, salary and working hours.


Day care ward A NEW department will open soon in Maidstone Hospital of- fering walk-in urgent day care. TheGovernment believes there


are about 70 conditions usually requiring a hospital admission that can instead be treated through specialist day care. GPs can refer patients direct


to the ward and it will also complement Maidstone’s busy A&E department.Avoiding hos- pital admissions should bring significant savings. The department will be lo-


cated in a regenerated Monck- ton ward, vacant since children’s and women’s serv- ices moved to Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. The new ward could open by November.


Good news on cards THE hospital boardwas told by chief executive Glenn Douglas there would be good news for Maidstone Hospital at its No- vember meeting when strategic announcements are made. He said some ward upgrades had been completed, adding to quality of care and ambience.


Director moves on DIRECTOR of nursing Flo Panel-Coates has left to take on a similar post with Barking, Havering and Redbridge Trust. She arrived four years ago to


raise standards and morale after the departure of former chief executive Rose Gibb, following the infection scandal. Her deputy John Kennedy is in- terim head of nursing.


Getting it right THE new TunbridgeWells Hos- pital in Pembury has been open for a year and chief executive Glenn Douglas said: “Every- thing is coming together and I think it is a major success. We are getting it right a lot more.”


Satisfaction rates THE trust’s latest patient satis- faction survey shows 98% would recommend the trust to family and friends.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


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