Latest health news from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
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. Thedepartmentwillbelo-
cated in a regenerated Monck- ton ward, which has been vacant since children’s and women’s services moved to Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. The new ward could open by November.
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.
Good news on cards THE hospital board was 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.
Satisfaction rates THE trust’s latest patient satis- faction survey shows 98% would recommend the trust to family and friends.
Road closure UPPER Street in Leeds will be closed to traffic for up to five days from No- vember 5. The road will be closed
just south of 9 The Square for traffic-calming and resurfacing. The alterna- tive route is via B2163 Lower Street/Penfold Hill, A20 Ashford Road, Chegworth Road, Lenham Road, Chartway Street, A274 Maidstone Road, B2163 Leeds Road.
Hospital redundancy offer
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 application will 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.
Director of nursing moves on DIRECTOR of nursing Flo Panel-Coates has left to take on a simi- lar 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 interim head of nursing.
Free computer lessons for over 60s
SIXTH-FORMERS at Invicta Gram- mar School are offering free com- puter lessons for the over-60s. The sessions run from 11am on
Wednesdays for an hour during term time at the school in Hunts- man Lane, Maidstone. Training will be tailored to the in- dividual, based on their experience, and will be on a one-to-one or two- to-one basis. Anyone interested should email
m.bennett@
invicta.kent.sch.uk or call reception on 01622 755856.
The school is closed between Octo- ber 26 and November 12. Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
Parish council fined BEARSTED Parish Council has been fined £400 byHMRevenue and Cus- toms for late payment of its PAYE. The council fell into arrears earlier this year when the clerk was on sick leave and some bills were left un- paid. Chairman Cllr Richard Ash said: “Thiswas beyond our control.”
You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk 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.
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.”
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. We are getting it right a lot more.”
Team sponsors MAIDSTONE United has secured sponsorship from the Plumbase plumbing and heating store in Arm- strong Road, Maidstone. The club plays at the
new Gallagher stadium and has an extensive youth and junior pro- gramme.
Plumbase is providing
the under-11s team with a new kit for the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons.
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