Charities aid


for the elderly THE White House Charities, based at West Farleigh’s White House pub, has notched up another resound- ing year – despite the reces- sion. The former Old Folks Four


– a fund-raising darts team which disbanded about six years ago – has been replaced by the charities’ group and continues to raise in the re- gion of £3,000 a year. The group has just pre- sented a cheque for £2,000 to Age UKMaidstone, and is set to spend £1,000 on 40 festive hampers for elderly people living alone in the villages of Hunton andWest Farleigh. Mike Allingham, who helps co-ordinate the fund-raising events, along with landlady and president Jan Morris, and regulars John Chapman and Bill Weller, said: “It is be- coming increasingly difficult to getpeopletopartwith money in these tough times. “However,we seem to have managed it again and the local old people will be able to look forward to their Christmas hampers as usual.” The group has raised more


than £20,000 in the past eight years and thanks everyone for their support.


KIMS link to top hospitals


MAIDSTONE is on the brink of becoming a worldwide centre for medical excellence. In a ground-breaking arrange-


ment, directors behind KIMS – the Kent Institute of Medicine and Surgery – are close to firm- ing up a deal with two of the country’s top hospitals to offer satellite services. Under phase two of the devel- opment, phase one of which is now underway at Newnham Court, off M20 junction 7 near Bearsted, there are proposals for a Stoke Mandeville (Maidstone) hospital and also some of the finest paediatric services in the country, run in tandem with Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London. Acting chief executive Franz Dickmann and hiswifeDr Phyllis Holt have been in talkswith both specialist hospitals, as well as with universities around the world, in a bid to provide a state- of-the-art medical university. The result is a portfolio of buildings that will increase the size of the hospital by a further 15,000 sq m. KIMS directors hope to apply


for planning permission early in the newyear and, if successful, to commence construction as phase one nears completion. As many as 140 nurses could


be employed in the first phase, with the job total increasing to 3,500 upon completion.


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The first phase of KIMS is making rapid


progress


The hospital is being privately funded but will have beds for NHSpatients.MrDickmann said: “Future healthcare will be pro- vided by a mixture of existing NHS institutions and the private sector investing in the health care system. These institutions will provide advanced care for those who are privately insured and NHS patients. “The founder members of


KIMS recognise the reality of the situation and are creating an in- dependent holistic care unit, re- sponding to the NHS.” Cllr Malcolm Greer, Maid-


stone’s cabinet member for eco- nomic and commercial development, said: “It has been estimated that the hospital will put £130m a year into the Maid- stone economy, which has to be good news for the town. The di- rectors, headed by Franz Dick- mann, have been through hell to get here and it is very exciting


that things are finally coming to fruition.” As well as a specialist paedi-


atric unit, which will be run in conjunction with Great Ormond Street, the plans for phase two in- corporate a women’s health and birthing centre, a neurological re- habilitation centre for sufferers of multiple sclerosis, dementia and brain injuries, and assisted care homes for the elderly who are in- capable of independent living. There are also proposals for a research and development unit, education facilities and accom- modation, as well as conference facilities. KIMS is the first private hospi-


tal to be built in Kent for more than 20 years. The list of pro- posed services includesmanynot available in either the private or NHS sectors. There will be a dental surgery, a pharmacy and outpatient con- sulting rooms.


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