Hospital A&E targets missed


PRESSURES on accident and emergency led to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospital trust missing the national four-hour A&E target from December until late April. But significant im- provements have now been made. A report to the trust board in- dicated local hospitals suffered from countrywide problems of demand increasing due to win- ter pressures and there was a growth in ambulance con- veyances. In addition, weaknesses in the


newNHS 111 telephone system, with many unable to get a re- sponse, have led to an increase in patients self-presenting to hospital A&E. The board has introduced a


plan in liaison with new West Kent GP-led clinical commis- sioning group (CCG) aimed at


Dancer leaps to peak to help


meeting targets in the second quarter (April, May, June) of the year. This includes extra invest- ment in doctors and nurses working in A&E. A GP also works in A&E de- partments at both hospitals to help ensure emergency referrals from other GPs are directed to the most appropriate service. The trust hit target in the last


week of April and improve- ments continued in May. This


Maidstone review


THE trust board also heard that a major strategic review and devel- opment programme was under- way at Maidstone Hospital. New endoscopy and urology investiga- tion units were due to open in June. Work starts on new admis- sion and discharge lounges this summer.


led to the CCG praising in late May the trust’s A&Edepartments on recent improvements in wait- ing times which saw 98% of pa- tients admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours of arrival. The national shortage of A&E doctors is alsoworrying the trust and problems in filling a senior post in the new emergency am- bulatory unit at Maidstone harms its effectiveness.


Emergency targets


AMBULANCES in Kent have been missing emergency targets. The target for categoryAcalls to arrive in eight minutes is 75% with a lower threshold of 70%. But in April theKent figure fell to 69.56%. Emergencies requiring a 19- minute response were 96.65%, beating targets.


for hospital A NEW building has been pro- posed to house a discharge unit at the front of Maidstone Hos- pital, in Hermitage Lane. A planning application re- quests a building to ease trans- port flow and speed up the process of patient discharge. A supporting statement said:


“The proposed site is located at the front of the hospital and will be placed adjacent to the now redundant helicopter pad. “The unit is within easy reach


of the main wards, stairs and lifts, giving access to the first floor. The external appearance of the unit will be similar to those buildings adjacent – white profiled metal sheeting with a contrasting band, com- plete with flashings and trims all fixed to the building.” Maidstone Council will deter- mine the planning application.


Traders’ deaf facilities put to the test


build school A DANCER from Maidstone is climbing Mt Kilimanjaro to raise money to build a school in Burkino Faso – the most illiter- ate country in


the world. Stephanie


V e zmar (pictured), of Rose- holme, Fant, has joined a group of dancers taking part in the “Leap to the Peak” campaign, on behalf of Giving Africa. As well as climbing Africa’s highest peak, the dancers will be holding danceworkshops in Nairobi, ending with a public performance. Stephanie has already raised money through various events, including running half marathons, and with other dancers has launched a “Move the World” campaign, which aims to build a movement of passionate dancers willing and able to make a meaningful dif- ference to those who need it most If you would like to sponsor Stephanie, who set off on her journey on June 24, go to www.justgiving.com/Stephanie -Vezmar


Rights of way advice PHILIP Chittleborough has been given planning permis- sion to fell a protected sycamore and cherry tree at Long Rede Cottage, Heath Road, Barming. Maidstone Council’s decision


notice advised the applicant to seek advice from KCC’s public rights of way officer before un- dertaking the work.


24 Town


AMAIDSTONE woman’s campaign to assess the facilities available to people with a hearing loss in the town centre businesses has produced dis- appointing results. Working with volunteers from local deaf char-


ity, Hi Kent, Deborah Kapaj visited businesses in the town during Deaf AwarenessWeek. A total of 67% of the 97 businesses surveyed


were given a ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ rating, with only 40% having a hearing loop system and then only 25% of those having loops inworking order or staff trained to use them. Signs indicating that a hearing loop was avail-


able were generally poor. However, staff were on the whole helpful and keen to see an im- provement in what they offered customers with


a hearing loss. Hi Kent will be running Deaf Awareness ses-


sions for only £20 per person on June 11 and 17, and also offering a British Sign Language basics course, all in central Maidstone. The charity will give advice and practical solutions to busi- nesses to supply and install the equipment nec- essary to improve communication with their hearing-impaired customers. John Clayton, Hi Kent Chief Executive said “Hi


Kent will continue to campaign to raise aware- ness of the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people. “We are hoping that all Maidstone’s businesses


will enrol at least one staff member on a Deaf Awareness or basic sign language course.”


Charity fun run MAIDSTONE’S 5km Big Fun Run takes place atMote Park on Sunday, September 15. Participants will receive a charity running vest or T-shirt, and an information pack. There is also a two for one offer to en- courage participation. Everyone who runs on behalf


Rural forum a great success


MORE than 90 people attended the first Maidstone Rural Older Per- sons Forum, at Headcorn Village Hall. Run by Brighter Futures, a service of Voluntary Action Maidstone


(VAM) it was designed to interest older people living in villages and more rural areas. Guest speakers included Cllr Eric Hotson, chairman of Kent County Council; Medway Valley Countryside Partnership; Action with Com- munities in Rural Kent and Rob Jarman, head of planning,Maidstone Borough Council. The eventwas funded byKent County Council’s local schemes grant,


and a member community grant from JennyWhittle, county councillor forMaidstoneRural East. The funds received enabledBrighter Futures to offer a free lunch, provided by Switch Cafe and transport to the event. The event was also supported by HeadARA (Headcorn’s Active Retirement Association). Danny Hewis, manager at Brighter Futures said ‘The popularity of


the event proves that a forum is something older people want in the rural parts of the borough, and we hope this event will be the first of several- certainlywe have had excellent feedback. Iwould also like to highlight the support we had from volunteers, who worked so hard to make it a success.’ For more information about VAM and Brighter Futures, future fo-


rums, or volunteering, call them on 01622 677337 or go to www.vam- online.org.uk


of Meningitis UK will be part of the Meningitis Musketeers team with the motto – All 4 One and One 4 All. To sign up and receive a spon- sorship pack, or for more infor- mation, please call Emma King on 0117 303 3345 or email em- making@meningitisUk.org.


Pub conversion plan A PLANNING application has been submitted to turn the Saxon Chief pub at 250 Queens Road,Maidstone, into office use. Maidstone Council will deter-


mine Venture Property Services’ change of use application.


Takeaway scheme MOHAMMED Razeem has ap- plied to convert Kent News at 4 Colman Parade, King Street, Maidstone into a restaurant and takeaway. Maidstone Council will deter- mine the planning application.


You can e-mail the Downs Mail — info@downsmail.co.uk


New building


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