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downsmail.co.uk Hospital asked for op report
LAWYERS representing patients who died or suffered complica- tions after specialist surgery at Maidstone Hospital have called for a report by the Royal College of Surgeons to be made public. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells
NHS Trust agreed to share the rec- ommendations of the college’s in- vestigation into its practices regarding upper gastrointestinal la- parascopic surgery – thought to be responsible for five deaths and de- layed recoveries at the hospital in
Poor rating
for trust food THE food served up to hospital pa- tients by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has been voted among the worst in the country. The results from 353 patients
who completed the Care Quality Commission survey between Sep- tember and January this year showed itwas one of the few areas where the trust failed to improve. Other areas where patients said
there was room for improvement included the information theywere given in A&E, the availability of handwash gels and the number of nurses on duty, which all war- ranted a small dip in patient satis- faction. Pain control, post-operative ad-
vice and the use of understandable language in letters to patients also showed a slight slip in the rating given to the trust by the CQC. However, the trust did improve
in 44 areas on the previous year’s results, covering patient treatment, safety and privacy. The trust’s chief nurse, Avey Bhatia, said: “We are really pleased with the results of the latest inpatient survey, which show that the trust is continuing to build on the good work and im- provementswe made in 2012. “Our staff have worked really
hard over the past year, particularly around admissions and discharge planning and this has been re- flected in the survey’s positive pa- tient feedback.”
2012-13. The trust’s medical direc- tor Paul Sigston said: “We have now spoken with families of pa- tients who died following compli- cations after their upper gastro-intestinal (GI) cancer sur- gery during 2012 and 2013, and have apologised for the failings in care that occurred. We are now making the recommendations of the Royal College of Surgeons re- view publicly available.” But Thomson Snell & Passmore, who is representing the husband of
one patient who bled to death after a laparoscopic operation to remove a tumour from her oesophagus, says releasing only the report’s rec- ommendations only partly answers the questions of affected families. The firm’s Sharon Lam said: “The families deserve to know the full circumstances of their loved ones’ deaths.” The report recommends more
than a dozen improvements to the upper GI cancer surgery at Maid- stone Hospital to improve patient
safety, including changes to the practices of the three upper gastro- intestinal surgeons working there in 2012-2013. They are still em- ployed by the trust, but no longer carry out complex cancer resection surgery. The hospital added that the re-
view did not identify any wider is- sues pre-2012-13 and mortality rates for the servicewere within na- tional levels. GI surgery is tem- porarily taking place at St Thomas Hospital in London.
Mixed bag for patient satisfaction
OUT-of-hours services at Tun- bridgeWells Hospital in Pembury need improvement, says the Care Quality Commission. The inspection found that while standards of care, treatment and management were being met, when it came to standards of staffing and caring for patients safely, more needed to be done. Inspectors studied A&E, surgical assessment unit, medical assess- ment unit, intensive care, theatres and wards.
The report noted patients were pleased with the treatment and care they received and how nurs- ing staff were keen to protect pa- tients’ dignity. The report said: “We heard that patients had been shown how to operate their beds and the call bells on admission to the ward. A rela- tive told us that staff had been ‘very good to Mum’and that when she was in severe pain, staff re- sponded straight away with anal- gesia.”
However, while appropriate arrangements were in place to en- sure medicines were available, in- spectors said they were not stored or managed safely. Their report continued: “We
found that staff were supported and that the trust monitored the quality of care that patients re- ceived. “However, we found that there
were not enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet peo- ple’s needs.”
Top marks from Ofsted Cricket plans
PLAY times spent outside and fun snack times are two highlights of the day for youngsters at a Maidstone nursery, marked outstanding by a gov- ernment inspector. The Ofsted grade given to Kids Unlimited Nurseries, at Turkey Mill,
which cares for 112 children aged three months to under-five,was up on its previous good grade from June 2012. The inspector noted that play areas at the Ashford Road centre – owned
by Bright Horizons Ltd – including its ‘mud kitchen’, benefited children greatly by allowing them to develop their imagination indoors and out. The inspector added: “Staff expand children’s ideas and provide ex-
cellent support, allowing children to transport the various materials to where theywant to play with them. This positive interaction greatly sup- ports children’s on-going progress and learning through play.” The Ofsted report praised its 30 staff and management, which it de- scribed as “exceptional”. The inspector continued: “Children have excellent opportunities to ex-
plore the wider community as they go on walks to the supermarket, as well as visit the local orangery, armed ready with magnifying glasses to explore and investigate the bugs and plants.” She added that staff snack times were just one activity turned into an
enjoyable opportunity by staff for youngsters to learn life skills. “Daily routines within the nursery enable children to begin to develop valuable life skills and personal independence.”
Classic cars and retro vintage
BEARSTED’S Classic Car show returns to the Green for the seventh time on Bank Holiday Monday, May 26, from 10am to 6pm. The free event, with some 150 clas-
sic cars on display, will have some- thing for everyone – not just car enthusiasts. Stalls will sell vintage clothing and accessories and therewill be a chance to have a vintage-style hair-do and make-up. The retro theme continues with performances by the Lindy Hop Dance team.
48 Maidstone East May 2014
The event is in aid of Kent Air Am- bulance and, subject to operations, a low fly-past at some point during the day is promised. A farmers’ market will offer a wide
range of local produce, and there will be a formal afternoon tea at The Limes, opposite the Green. A staunch supporter of the event
was Peter Willson, who sadly died last year. His family have donated a tro- phy in his memory, and his daughter Sally will present it for the first time – to the ‘best dressed couple and car’.
More information fromPhilipHill on
07580 093985 or email philcher@bt-
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forge ahead STRONG support was expressed again for a return of Maidstone Cricket Festival at the annual meet- ing of Kent County Cricket Club. Kent chief executive Jamie Clif-
ford said ground facilities had to be improved first and The Mote Cricket Club was making steady progress. Kent chairman George Kennedy invited life member Dennis Fowle, chairman of The Mote Develop- ment Committee, to update the crowded meeting. Mr Fowle said a residential de-
veloper had made a good bid for four acres of the 24-acre site and a planning application for a new pavilion and other significant im- provements should be submitted to Maidstone Council later this year. The club was disappointed that
two years of detailed negotiations with Maidstone Rugby Club had broken down when rugby voted against relinquishing its lease be- fore expiry in May 2016. Cricket had offered rugby a new
lease, excluding the upper field and now planned construction work could start in summer 2016. The Kent club reported a much- improved financial position and was upbeat about more successes on the playing side with Rob Key returning as captain.
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