Concerns about NHS 111 helpline


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in Maidstone - Kent & surrounding areas PROPERTIES TO RENT


THE NHS 111 helpline has come under criticism from Ton- bridge and Malling Council, which has compiled a list of residents’ concerns about the service and its impact on A&E. In a report to the council’s communities and health advi- sory board, the council’s chief executive, Julie Beilby, recom- mended sending the list of con- cerns to various NHS organisations and KCC. Coun- cillors voted in favour of Ms Beilby’s recommendations and the list of concerns has been sent. Ms Beilby said callers who di-


Elmview - Detling £1350 PCM


Longham Copse – Downswood - £1100 PCM


alled 111 were often referred to a local ambulance servicewhen other forms of assistance might be more appropriate. She said ambulances and paramedics were being unnecessarily de- tained for up to four hours at A&E, atMaidstone Hospital and TunbridgeWells Hospital, Pem-


bury, so they could pass patient information to the triage nurse. Lengthy and seemingly irrele-


vant questioning of callers; long waiting times at A&E; a lack of knowledge of out-of-hours serv- ices by NHS 111 staff; and the relocation of ambulances from Tonbridge and Sevenoaks to Paddock Wood were also criti- cised in Ms Beilby’s report. In addition, residents were concerned that the lack of refer- rals to local out-of-hours serv- ices could lead to their closure, she added. The list of concerns has been


sent to NHS Direct, the Maid- stone and TunbridgeWells NHS Trust, the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group and the South East Coast Ambulance Service as well as KCC. Com- ments from the agencies will be circulated among members and, if necessary, considered at a fu- ture advisory board meeting.


Rotary club president Doug


Yeoman Way – Bearsted £875 PCM


Stable Cottage – Thurnham £750 PCM


Baguley presents the defibrillator to Louise


Macpherson, of the


Goodman Centre


Whitmore Street - Maidstone - £695 PCM


Blean Square - Vinters Park - £750 PCM


Rotary club’s defibrillator gift RESIDENTS of Madginford now have available a life-saving defibrillator donated by the Rotary Club of Maidstone. The equipment, which is used to revive heart attack victims, was pre-


sented by club president Doug Baguley to LouiseMacpherson, manager of the Goodman Centre in Egremont Road, Madginford. The centre is run by Age UK and offers day care for clients suffering


from dementia. For more information about the centre, call 01622 736966. Transport is available to pick up and return clients.


Grecian Street Maidstone - £750 PCM


Westwood House – Bearsted - £650 PCM


For more information on these properties or details of further properties visit our website or call


BEARSTED OFFICE Tel: 01622 737800


Bearsted Green Maidstone ME14 4QZ Email: lettings@ferrisandco.net


www.ferrisandco.net Find us on 22 Town


Lunch concerts A SEASON of lunchtime con- certs continues at All Saints’ Church in Mill Street on Thurs- days through the summer. All the concerts start at 1.05pm. Drinks are available, and a collection will be taken and donated to a charity chosen by the performer. The pro- gramme is as follows: July 4:Wind in theWeald July 11: Organist Bryan Gipps (Maidstone Samaritans) July 18: Bass baritone Brian White (Maidstone Christian Care) July 25: Recorder and guitar music by Sally Richards and Tessa Protheroe (ChYps) August 1: Organist Gover James (Demelza House Hospice) September 26: Organist David Flood (Canterbury Cathedral Appeal)


Summer fete TIGER Primary’s Parents and Wider Support (PAWS) group are holding their first summer fete, from 11am to 4pm The event, which will be


held at New Line Learning Academy, in Boughton Lane, will have family games, a bouncy castle, barbecue, a special guest appearance and an entertainment arena, with live music, perform- ances and lots of prizes to be won.


Stalls at the event can be booked in advance from the Tiger PAWS team – email tigerpaws@futureschool- strust.com. Stalls cost £10 plus a do-


nated raffle prize, or £15 without a raffle prize.


Have you got news for us? Phone our News Desk on 01622 734735


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