New NHS number hits ‘teething pains’
MANY Maidstone area resi- dents are reported to be facing big problems trying to use the new 111 NHS phone number. GPs on the new NHS West
Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) body, which now controls most local NHS purse strings, reported “significant teething problems”, especially at weekends. One GP told the meeting: “There has been a significant number of calls beyond expec- tations and people have been putting the phone down be- cause they cannot get re- sponses.” This has led to many people
with “minor or walk-in” health problems visiting hospital A&E departments, increasing week- end pressures there. Doctors said there was also a substantial increase in patients putting pressure on GP prac- tices on Mondays. The 111 calls are fielded by SECAmb, the ambulance serv-
ice, who were said to be aware and pressing on with urgent im- provements. “But it takes time to recruit and train staff,” the meeting was told. CCG chief officer Ian Ayres
said: “It is a quality of care issue.” A spokesperson for SECAmb
said: “The implementation of NHS 111 is at a very early stage in our area. We must recognise that this is a new service for the public and we are still learning about the different reasons why patients access the service and the most appropriate ways for us to respond to their needs. “We recognise that there is a
need for improvement,which is why we are working closely with commissioners to resolve any issues. “SECAmb, along with all parts
of the NHS, both in our region and nationally, is extremely busy. Demand in all areas has risen to levels far in excess of ex- pectations throughout 2012-13.”
Chef battles for charity cash HOLLINGBOURNEchef RichardPhillips is spicingupour TVscreensashe does battle in the kitchenwith his culinary rivals. Heis taking part inaBBC1
series, Chefs: Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth is, where he will go head-to-head with other celebrity chefs. The programme asks two
chefs to buy food, prepare dishes and sell them to din- ers at some of the country’s top restaurants. They have to devise a three-course menu and set their own prices in a bid to temptdiners tochoose their dishes. Richard’s profit from his
culinary adventure will be do- nated to Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance. The TV chef began his ca-
reer in London’s Savoy Hotel, working his way up to be- come head chef for Marco Pierre White. He then branched out on his own, as owner of the Michelin-starred Thackeray’s in TunbridgeWells. His portfolio of restaurants now includes The Windmill at Holling- bourne, and he has made regular appearances on Ready Steady Cook and Saturday Kitchen.
Gypsy rumour sparks blight fear Continued from front page
through, and she indicated that the current local concerns were a possible reason. “The hamlet of Lenham Heath suffered from blight for many
years with theM20 & CTRL projects, sand extraction proposals and already two gypsy and traveller sites. “It would assure the local residents if you could confirm there
are no plans for a council-controlled site to be established in the area. Obviously, local concerns are running high and it would be best to have a timely response to allay residents’ concerns.” Colin Gillett, a parish councillor who lives in Lenham Heath,
said: “At the moment the parish council is trying to do its neigh- bourhood plan and engagewith the community about possible new developments, but this is difficult when things are going on behind the scenes that we are not being told about.”
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