PATIENT power has been in- strumental in forcingMaidstone and Malling GPs to reconsider their use of premium rate phone numbers. Angry patients found their phone bills rocketing after a number of GPs brought in pre- mium rate 0844 numbers, cost- ing them an extra 5p aminute to book an appointment or seek medical advice when calling from a landline – and up to 40p a minute when calling from a mobile number. Aylesford Medical Centre in Admiral Moore Drive and


Voting ward changes FINAL proposals for revised vot- ing arrangements in Tonbridge andMalling have been published by the Local Governent Bound- ary Commission for England. Following boundary changes


that are likely to come into force in 2015, voters in the borough will elect 54 councillors instead of the current 53. They will be spread across seven three-mem- berwards, 16 two-memberwards and one single member ward. Commission chairman Max


Caller said: “We have been per- suaded to change our recom- mendation for Ryarsh which had been divided between two wards in our draft recommen- dations.Now most of the parish will be in a single ward.” The commission also agreed


that Wateringbury should be a single member ward rather than joined with neighbouring areas as previously put forward.” Other changes will see all of Ditton included in a single ward.


Rape charges made A KINGS Hill man has been charged with two counts of rape. Ian John Phipps (49) of Hurri-


cane Road, West Malling, was charged with the rape of awoman at Halling in 1986 and the rape of another woman atWrotham Hill in 1991.He appeared atMedway Magistrates Court on October 18 when he was remanded in cus- tody untilhis trial.Adatehas not been fixed.


Continued from page one


balance its books. Chief execu- tive Bonny Malhotra has pledged to leave no stone unturned in a bid to plug the funding gap – and vowed that the service will go on.


However, he is hopeful that a


local entrepreneur, philanthro- pist or benefactor will realise the value of the service and come forward to help in the interim. He said: “The irony is that the Government depends heavily on the voluntary sector. They know we will shout and scream, but we will still provide the service as that is whatwe signed up for. When someone knocks on your


12 Malling


Patients force GP call cost rethink


Thornhills Medical Practice in Martin Square, Larkfield, were among a number of local surger- ies that tied themselves into contracts with an 0844 provider, as it allowed them to add vari- ous options within their call management systems while get- ting a nominal income from the cost of incoming calls. However, as far back as 2009,


the Department of Health an- nounced that the NHS would be prohibited from using numbers that charged patients more than the cost of calling a standard number, giving them until De-


DITTON youngster Seona Macdon- aldwas among youngsters from the Maidstone area rewarded for their outstanding achievements at the final of the Try Angle Awards.


Seona (16) was the winner of the citizenship category for her project against human trafficking called “Her Future is Gold”. She is asking the people in Kent to help young womenwho have been brought into the country and sold for sex and cheap labour by donating their old jewellery. When melted down, this gives funds for rescue shelters and solicitors to prosecute the organis- ers of these crimes. Seona has raisedmore than £1,000.


TheKCCawards recognise contri- butions to the arts, sport,music and the community.Apanel of15young people selected the winners from the finalists, who were chosen at district events earlier this year.


cember 2010 to take steps to rec- tify the situation. Thornhills MedicalPractice has already applied to revert to a stan- dard 01732 number following complaints from patients. Ron Edwards and his wife Betty, both 86, from Ditton, were two of the most vocal campaigners against the call charges. He said: “We are both house- bound and it is totally unfair that we should be charged these expensive rates when we are so dependent on medical help. “This seriously affects the eld- erly and people on low incomes.


Golden future ahead for Seona


Alot of people these days, partic- ularly those living in apartments, don't have landlines and have to pay 40p per minute on their mo- biles. It is outrageous.” It is thought there are some 30 practices across Kent that still have 0844 numbers and the Kent andMedway Primary Care Trust is working with the Kent Local Medical Committee and those practices to resolve the situation. Some surgeries have installed


an additional geographical number, giving patients a choice of numbers to dial.


Star at school launch CHILDREN’s TV presenter Dave Benson Phillips has been invited to the opening of the new McGinty Speech and Language Centre building at West Malling CE Primary School onWednesday, Novem- ber 14. Pupils and staff will alsowel-


come friends and families to the celebration which will in- clude a balloon launch. The new classrooms adjoin


Seona Macdonald with KCC chairman Richard King


Now, ‘The Don’ – as he is affec- tionately known by current players – is looking forward to meeting his cricket hero, Eng- land and Kent legend ‘Deadly’ Derek Underwood, at the ap- peal event to which local busi- nessmen and councillors have been invited. Don worked all his life at the famous Readers factory in Teston which made cricket balls for county and Test


door asking for help, you can’t close it.” As with most charities, pleas


for volunteers to help generally result in more people seeking that help, but Mr Malhotra said: “That’s fine. We want people to come to uswith their problems. “In times of plenty, we don’t


have a problem, but at the mo- ment, too many people are chas- ing too little cash. “Unfortunately, Maidstone is perceived as quite well off.Apart from four deprived areas – Park Wood, Shepway,Tovil and Man- gravet – the borough is relatively affluent. “People like Lloyds TSB, who


matches as well as for thou- sands of local league games. Don, a medium-quick bowler


the main school, providing im- proved facilities and access and removing the need to cross the playground in all weathers. The centre, which provides specialist intensive teaching for children with language and communication difficulties, moved to West Malling from its previous base at Shepway in 1988. It was renamed in 2009 in memory of Joan McGinty who taught there for 19 years.


Lucky Don gets ball rolling for cricket pavilion appeal Continued from page one


Amazingly, three days after


in his heyday more than 50 years ago, still holds the club record for themostwickets (70) taken in a single season for the Saturday team. Another record he holds is


being secretary for 23 years of the UK’s smallest trade union, which represented cricket ball makers, but has since dis- banded.


weapproached for funding, were looking to help the top 20 de- prived areas, and we’re not one of them.” When Mr Malhotra joined Maidstone CAB 14 years ago, it was 100% funded by the bor- ough council – to the tune of £145,000. Now, although the council has


put in £185,000 this year, as the service has grown that represents just 30% of the total funding. Mr Malhotra said: “We have


been successful at raising funds and we are fortunate in having been able to grow and are grate- ful to the council for their con- tinued support. But we can’t


Don’s ‘Lucky 15’ accumulator on jockey Freddie Tylicki he followed up with a ‘double’ bet on two more of his rides – and won another £1,000. “I was very chuffed,” said Don, who also made a donation to the vil- lage church. Anyone who would like to knowmore about the club, the appeal or launch event should email peteweb- ley@blueyonder.co.uk or phone 07985 214513.


Advice bureau hoping for ‘generous benefactor’


expect them to give us more at a time when everyone is having to settle for less.” MaidstoneCABhad just seven salaried employees when Mr Malhotra joined in 1998. Today, it has 28. He said: “We ask our volun-


teers to give at least a day a week, but they cannot manage without professional support and people to provide administrative and clerical back up. “The staff here have years of experience and, as our success rate shows, are crucial in provid- ing specialist advice with regard to debt, housing, employment andwelfare benefits issues.”


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