Meeting demand MAIDSTONE and Tunbridge Wells Hospital Trust is not ex- pecting problems meeting new Government demands over maintaining adequate nursing levels. “We have built up our nurs-


ing strength,” said chief execu- tive Glenn Douglas. “I am satisfiedwe now have adequate cover.” He said the trust would dis-


play nursing levels required in every ward and would indicate reasons why this number was not on duty. He saw sudden staff sickness as the greatest threat to maintaining a full complement.


Trust’s rating


MAIDSTONE and Tunbridge Wells Hospital Trust has been rated highly in a risk assess- ment by the Care Quality Com- mission. All trusts in the UK were


rated in one of six bands, with one the poorest and six the best. The local trust was put in band five.


Getting you home THE trust and other care organ- isations are looking at innova- tive ways of helping patients leave hospital sooner. This includes more assis-


tance at home and fast-tracked rehabilitation.


Last bid to save nursing home


COUNCILLORS want to see proof that retaining the former nurses’ home in Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, is not financially vi- able before deciding whether to demolish it. The imposing neo-Georgian building, built in the 1920s, should be preserved, members of the planning committee felt. Yet they fear they may have to acceptMaidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust’s application to re- place itwith 53 homes because it is not listed. The committee de- ferred the scheme to study the trust’s viability report, which ar- gues that converting the building for residential use would not make financial sense. The building housed nurses


who used towork at nearbyOak- wood Hospital, a psychiatric fa- cility founded in 1833 as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum. Brian Moss, member for Bridge, said: “The applicants say the building is not viable for con- version to housing. They would, wouldn’t they, as conversion can be more expensive and they are concerned for their profit. “The applicant can return with


a proposal retaining this fine building, which enhances the heritage and historical associa- tion of Barming with a famous, perhaps infamous, way inwhich mental health was dealt with. “Its fame, aswith the asylum at


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The former nurses’ home in Hermitage Lane,


Barming


The proposed 53 homes comprise 18 one-bedroom flats, 12 four-bed- room three-storey houses for private sale, eight three-bedroom three- storeyhouses for affordable rent, six two-bedroom flats, fivethree-storey houses for private sale and four four-bedroom two-storey houses for pri- vate sale. Should thehospital trust getplanningpermission itwould sell the land to a housing developer and bank the money.


Bedlam, has added words to the English language. If this demoli- tion goes ahead, people will say the council is barmy.” These sentiments were echoed


by members of the committee as well as Cllr Fay Gooch, ward member for Barming, who said it would be an “absolute tragedy” if the building was destroyed. Maidstone Council’s conserva-


tion officer objected to the scheme, claiming the building had architectural and social his- torical value. It was agreed to defer the pro-


posal, but committee member Cllr Tony Harwood felt it would be simply delaying the in- evitable. He said: “It is not a listed building and never will be.” He agreed the outline appli-


cation should be deferred, but only to consider issues relating to landscaping and layout. Cllr Richard Lusty, chairman of


the committee, told Downs Mail after the meeting that officers made an “unfortunate slip-up” by not givingmembers the appli- cant’s viability report prior to the meeting. The planning committee might


have been able to determine the application on the day had it been furnishedwith confidential yellow papers showing the trust’s analysis on sell-on values of the proposednewhousing. However, Cllr Lusty said a second hearing on the scheme would cost sub- stantially less than the average of £1,250 it costs to bring a fresh ap- plication to committee.


Monumental Stonemasons Est. 1973


NAMM, BRAMM & NAMLC Registered


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