downsmail.co.uk


GPs leading NHS revolution MailMarks


 LOCAL GPs have now been in


control of most of our NHS budget for about 18 months and after getting organised, they are now warming to their massive task. Twelve GPs selected by their peers, supported by a strong management team, make up the NHSWest Kent Clinical Commissioning Group and currently have a £480m budget to provide services for a population approaching 500,000 mainly in Maidstone, TunbridgeWells and Tonbridge. As decreed by Government they took


over the task from a primary care trust. I have regularly attended governing meetings of both and am now convinced we have the right professionals doing the job. There can be no doubt our GPs more


fully appreciate patient needs and this is so often reflected as they make difficult financial decisions, set to become tougher during the next few years. The group’s challenge is to spend that budget as efficiently as possible, not just to maintain quality of services but to improve them. The pattern for its Fit for the Future campaign now becomes more visible. Of importance is that many more services are available in the community – in our homes, in enlarged, more sophisticated GP surgeries, in clinics and from specialist professionals. The direction is away from over-stretched and very expensive hospitals.


More room for frail


Dear Sir – After the recent article in the Downs Mail I would support the need for pensioner parking. Myparents, who live in Maidstone and do


not drive, are aged 83 and 86. Both have limited mobility but are not entitled to a blue badge just because they are pensioners. I take them out shopping and to garden centres and I amin support of extra space- allocated parking. I also work for the Alzheimer's Society and


take my clients out in the car for social support, shopping, lunch etc, so the same applies and there is a need for allocated parking.


Alzheimer's is not a reason for a blue


badge, but the need to support sufferers safely in and out of the car would be so much easier with extra space. Name and address supplied


Barrier for bays needed


Dear Sir – Regarding wider parking spaces for the elderly, although this is a fantastic idea in theory, the practice may be very


Contact our team ...


Stephen Eighteen Editor stephen@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 231


28 Maidstone East February 2015 Diane Nicholls


Assistant editor diane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 232


Jane Shotliff Journalist


jane@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


Dawn Kingsford Journalist


dawn@downsmail.co.uk 01622 734735 ext 233


DENNISFOWLE President dfowle2011@aol.com


The group also concentrates on running a tight ship financially without impacting unduly on key patient needs. For example, you may be prescribed more generic medications and fewer antibiotics. In addition, GPs are encouraged to prescribe less, but not at risk to patient health. Members of the public will be encouraged to take greater responsibility for their own health, with emphasis on obesity, smoking and exercise. Greater efficiency and use of NHS staff


and facilities will also feature strongly. The proposal for all our personal health records to be available to professionals at the touch of a computer button is an example of saving NHS and patient time and enabling faster, informed decisions. We are at the beginning of a revolution


in how many NHS services will be supplied. If the NHS is to survive as a mostly free service to all, we must trust these GPs to protect our interests.





Beating floods THE coalition Government has pledged


£17m for flooding measures and local MP Helen Grant says she is confidentKCCwill organise match funding one way or an-


different. There are many drivers who have no respect for the needs of others and will simply take advantage of these new larger spaces, in the sameway as they do not baulk at parking in either disabled or parent and toddler bays at present. The simplest (but perhaps not cheapest) solution is to make it impossible for them to use such bays by using some kind of raised bar which can be lowered by a qualifying driver with the aid of some kind of remote control. Such devices could be dispensed by health professionals to those who are eligible. Morag Gaherty, Bearsted


Right ofway row


Dear Sir – I read with interest of a new resident to Bearsted Green’s allegedly unauthorised aempts to discourage use of a long-established right ofway. Local councillors, historians and residents are up in arms, with lawyers involved between the homeowner and the parish council. Speaking generally and from experience, there is an increasing trend whereby some


other in these severe financial times. Ms Grant led the local campaign and


chaired a series of high-profile meetings on the subject of flooding prevention. In recent years Yalding has twice been inundated by flood waters and human suffering has been intense and prolonged. Sadly a repeat is very likely unless the Leigh Barrier is extended, hopefully by 2020. Unfortunately the campaign has been sullied by electioneering with local candidate Jasper Gerard belatedly attempting to divert credit in the Lib Dem direction. Let’s hope he can now work with Helen Grant’s team and KCC to help see all funds raised and the vital job done. Once again – here’s to a clean election fought on serious issues.


In the dark over parking ENTERING a car registration





number to buy a parking ticket is a bind – but how do you do it in the dark? Twice I faced this problem in Maidstone recently – once at All Saints’ car park and then in Hart Street. The little buttons are tough enough to hit in daylight and impossible if you cannot see the right ones.


Maidstone Council must either provide adequate lighting or change the system. How much would it lose between friendly motorists if it dropped the registration system at night or accepted a token gobbledygook registration?


newcomers move in and make assumptions to suit themselves with no regard for what has gone before, instead of “feeling their way” into their new community gradually. Afew years ago, new owners nearby blocked a long-established right ofway within a day of moving in.Aprevious owner had tried – and failed – to discourage use by erecting gates and obstructing the pathway. Legally, a right ofway must be kept clear at all times. After two years of litigation, including aempted mediation,we ended up in court. Mycasewas won on all counts across the


board;wewere able to prove the right of way going back decades. Whilst my ownership spans a mere 30 years, my predecessor’s dated back a lifetime. It cost the newcomers £65,000 in combined


legal costs plus damages. The cost in stress was considerable on both sides – very sad, but necessary. Throughout it all, I held fast to the phrase


from Terence Raigan’s play of The Winslow Boy trial: “Let right be done”. I hope it is in this case, too. Anna Preece, Bearsted Green


Comment


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