News Research aids


winemakers A NEW vineyard is being planted at East Malling Research to help scientists and growers achieve sig- nificant advances in the develop- ment of the UK wine industry. The site at East Malling Research (EMR), will be used for both scien- tific and demonstration purposes, and will focus on improving qual- ity and reducing costs of UK wine producers.


Dr Julien Lecourt (left), EMR’s head of viticulture re- search, said: “The quality of UK wines has dramatically in- creased this last


decade, and theUKviticulture sec- tor now needs world-class science to further underpin the production of the finest quality, globally-recog- nised, unique wines and increase winemakers’ margins. “There is a huge opportunity to exploit the unique UK ‘terroir’, the combination of environmental and physical growing conditions, and establish bespoke UK vines for UK wines.”


Home refused


A PROPOSAL to build a detached home in Bow Hill, Wateringbury was refused. Therewere six objections, includ-


ing one from the parish council which was concerned about traffic increases and exacerbating flood- ing problems. Maidstone Council refused the scheme because it was outside the village envelope and therefore con- sidered unsustainable.


Formore local news www.downsmail.co.uk


AN investigation into the local ambulance service has revealed serious shortcomings. The investigation of South East


Sarah Martin and CharlotteWood with the BSL interpreting cards


downsmail.co.uk


Big changes ahead if GP practices federate


By Dennis Fowle


MAJOR changes in the way many local doctor practices operate are being considered. Groups of GP practices in the Maidstone area are likely to federate to operate as “multi-speciality com- munity providers” (MCPs). They will co-operate to provide a


wider range of services. They will retain their independence – but they can choose to merge if they wish. They will be encouraged and sup-


ported by GP-ledWest Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in line with the Five-Year Forward View published by NHS England. As larger group practices they


could begin working in aligned teams with hospital consultants, senior nurses, geriatricians, paedia-


tricians and psychiatrists alongside community nurses, therapists, phar- macists, psychologists, social work- ers and other staff. This could be achieved by direct employment of these staff, becom- ing lead providers and subcontract- ing to other organisations, or staff could work to shared and agreed operating models. These practices would therefore


shift the majority of outpatient con- sultations and ambulatory care out of hospital settings. They could even take over the running of local community hospi- tals and therefore expand their di- agnostic services as well as such services as dialysis and chemother- apy.


The MCPs would also draw on the “renewable energy” of carers,


volunteers and patients themselves, accessing hard-to-reach groups and encouraging new approaches to changing health behaviours (such as exercise, obesity and smoking). MCPs would need to serve 30,000 patients or more and become a legal entity in some form rather than a loose alliance of practices. Already most local practices have joined one of two groups that have incorpo- rated as limited companies – Mid Kent Health and South West Kent Ltd.


Smaller independentGPpractices


will continue in their current form if desired by patients and GPs. TheCCGsays: “To develop feder-


ations it needs strong leadership from GPs working with skilled and experienced managers supported by good administration.”


Appointment help for the deaf


DEAF NHS patients are to be pro- vided with a signer for their ap- pointments. One thousand business-style


cards are being distributed to deaf clubs and are available by text to those with impaired hearing. The cards – the brainchild of Kent


Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, KCC and Healthwatch – will ensure all deaf patients are able to effectively com- municate if they need a BSL inter- preter at every appointment. Patient information manager Charlotte Wood said: “Deaf people can now show this card before their


appointments to make sure their healthcare professional is prepared and able to support them with an interpreter.” KCC’s assessment and support


worker for deaf services, Sarah Mar- tin, said: “Most people do not realise that for many deaf people, English is not their first language. It must be very difficult having to sit through a medical appointment if you cannot understand what is being said to you.” Patients can apply for a BSL inter-


preting card by text to KCC Deaf Services on 07795 951461, or to Healthwatch by text 07525 861639.


Ambulance inquiry shows flaws NHS 111 aim Individual county control


Coast Ambulance Service (SE- Camb), which includes the Maid- stone area, was instigated by the GP-led Clinical Commissioning Groups and led by Swale group. This followed a long period of


the service missing key targets for the most serious emergencies, endangering patient safety. The investigation into practice by SECamb crews identified “seri- ous incidents”. As a result Swale is conducting “deep dive” inves- tigations into individual inci- dents. The investigation said: “There have been concerns raised about SECamb’s internal gover-


30 Malling June 2015


IN a drive away fromlocalism SECamb now currently operates across the counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex. But this is now seen as one cause of deterioration in the ambulance serv-


ice and “disaggregation” of the SECamb contract is on the way. The plan now is to operate across individual counties, now being or- ganised. The Clinical Commissioning Groups are now monitoring any increase in complaints – and also quality issues which may follow disaggregation.


nance around serious incidents.” In addition, monthly contract-


ing meetings are being held with SECamb. One reported problem is low


scores in mandatory training rates for staff. Only 33% of staff recommend SECamb as a place to work.


Satisfied patients


A SECamb 999 patient survey shows 95.8% of responders were either very satisfied or sat- isfied with the service. In March therewere 23 complaints across Kent, 11 about timeliness.


THE local NHS 111 service is pro- vided by SECamb, operating from call centres in Ashford and Dork- ing. It has been operating for two


years, serving a population of 4.7 million. Improvements were made after a very difficult start. There was a decline in performance in the last three months of last year, but a recovery in the first three months of this year. Now more than 100,000 calls are


made every month, with up to 5,000 on a weekend day. About 95% are answered within 60 sec- onds.


About 90% of callers who need clinical advice should either speak to a clinician in the initial call or are called back within 10 minutes. Kent achieved 89.4% against this target.


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