Concerns about NHS 111 helpline
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-
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, at Maidstone 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.
GREENWORLD
DISCOUNT PET SUPPLIESS
DOG & CAT FOODS 15kg
2kg
Adult Turkey or Lamb
£36.99
Rotary club president Doug
Baguley presents the defibrillator to Louise
Macpherson, of the
Goodman Centre
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.
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)
Tree faces axe CONSERVATION area permis- sion has been granted for a ley- landii tree to be felled at Forge Cottages in Bearsted Green. Maidstone Council accepted
Alan Schofield’s planning ap- plication but said care should be taken not to disturb birds and bats that nest in the trees. Mr Schofield says the tree
roots have damaged sewage pipes at 1 Keats Cottage.
Funds to sing about THE Detling Singers raised more than £400 for two chari- ties from a raffle and refresh- ments at their summer concert. Bookings are now being taken
for concerts for Christmas 2013. If you need a choir for your Christmas event, email
info@detlingsingers.co.uk or call Edward on 01622 880404.
20kg Layers Pellets
Royal Canin Fit £11.99
SMALL HOLDERS £7.50
Rabbit Royale 15kg
£10.49 25Kg NICE NUTS £25.99
100 Fat & Seed Balls
20Kg TOP MIX
£9.99 £8.99
01580 891312 CRANBROOK ROAD,
STAPLEHURST TN12 OEU
WWW.GREENWORLDCOUNTRYSTORE.CO.UK MON TO SAT 9 TO 5 • SUN 10 TO 4
You can e-mail the Downs Mail —
info@downsmail.co.uk East 19 GARDEN BIRDS
20kg Horse & Pony Nuts
Mixed Corn.... £5.99
£6.90
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64