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downsmail.co.uk Nurse working in Ebola hospital


AMAIDSTONE nurse has spoken about the horrors of working in Ebola-hit Sierra Leone. Katie Turner – a former pupil at Invicta Grammar and co-chair of Maidstone’s Youth Forum – has been working at Freetown’s only children’s hospital for the past two months. Aqualified paediatric nurse, with


a background in A&E and tropical medicine, she joined the team at the WelbodiPartnership to offer training to frontline staff on infection control and child care. Katie (28),whocomes from a fam-


ily of nurses and has volunteered for Amnesty International and the Red Cross , has been keeping dad Alex, from Bearsted, up-to-date with her


School plan


A NEW secondary school can be built in Maidstone. The Department of Education


has approved the proposal for a science-based free school from Valley Invicta Academies Trust. Maidstone School of Science


and Technology will be built in Huntsman’s Lane, betweenValley Park School and Invicta Grammar.


latest exploits (she has not long re- turned from volunteering in Congo) with her online blog, which provides an insight into life in Freetown, from its natural beauty to the rubbish in its rivers. One entry de- scribes the “vary- ing levels of treatment avail- able”, adding: “Unfortunately, a lot of children ar- rive too late to be helped and the


frustration of that echoes among the staff.


“Hopefully, I will help the nurses


to work through this and encourage teaching for patients and their carers


Charity quiz


HARRIETSHAM in Bloom and Macmillan Cancer Support are hold- ing a fund-raising quiz evening on Saturday, April 25. The event in the village hall starts


at 7.30pm and the cost is £8 per per- son for tables of up to eight, includ- ing a ploughman’s supper. Email hpoursain@macmillan.org.uk, call Ray on 01622 850619, or Helene on 07764 503484.


Services we offer: Maidstone


• A vibrant Day Care Service in seven locations throughout the Borough in partnership with Golding Homes and the PCT


• If required, transport can be provided to the Day Care facilities on our fleet of mini-buses


• Community Foot Care Services in the home or at our nearest clinic.


• Community Bathing Service in the home for Maidstone & Malling


• Independent Living Support for those that need help with their housework, garden or shopping


• Volunteering opportunities • Advocacy Service for Maidstone & Malling • Disability Travel Vouchers on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council


• Computer Classes for the over 60’s • A list of local traders that have been recommended to us by older people


• Wheelchair Hire from our office in the town centre • The Goodman Centre for clients with Dementia • Information & advice for over 50’s in our office in Mill Street.


For more information on all our services, please feel free to contact us at: 7, Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 6XW Between the hours of 10am-4pm Monday – Thursday, 10am-2pm Friday Or telephone us on 01622 753618 Or email: info@ageukmaidstone.org.uk Or visit our website: www.ageuk/maidstone.org.uk


4 Maidstone East April 2015


so, maybe next time, they can pre- vent their child becoming too sick.” She goes on to say that health screening and safeguards for staff have improved and nurses feel safer working on the wards, but she ex- presses concern that while it is hoped the disease has peaked, some are eager to unwind disease con- trols.


Katie writes: “We know the num-


bers are slowing but there are still pockets of cases occurring. It is not a standard decline in Freetown, at least, and for the rest of the country, I cannot say. There is talk of schools reopening and curfews being lifted, but most feel it is too soon.” Aswell as training, Katie is work- ing as a mentor in a national pro-


Road correction


IN the “Open road to end suffering” story on page 55 of last month’s Downs Mail, we stated that Cllr Michael Stark had said the plan to open Averenches Road to through trafficwas scrapped after consulta- tion with the residents. We would like to clarify that it


was Cllr John Horne whomade this assertion, not Cllr Stark.


grammedesigned by theUSCenters for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation to improve standards in health facilities to pre- vent future outbreaks of infectious diseases in the country. DadAlex said:“We love to see her


once aweek on Skype and for a few moments can see how well she is and how she is coping with the fre- quent illnesses and deaths of chil- dren in Freetown. “She is now halfway through her


job out there andwe are looking for- ward to her return in May to be quarantined before her brother’s wedding in Maidstone in early June.” Keep up with Katie on her blog at freetowndiary.blogspot.co.uk.


Holiday let


A BARN could be converted into a two-bedroom holiday let at Thurnham Court, Thurnham Lane, Thurnham. It would be on the same land as


the main Victorian building, lo- cated 90m south of St Mary's Church.


Maidstone Council will decide the planning application.


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