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downsmail.co.uk High scores for hospital care
THE hospitals in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells have been given a clean bill of health after exceeding national average scores in all but one category.
Patient-led assessments of the care environment (Place) inspections take place annually at every hospital in the country. Staff and local patient represen-
tatives assess how the care envi- ronment in a hospital (or other type of treatment centre) supports pa- tients. The results are reported pub- licly to show how hospitals are performing nationally and locally to drive improvements. Local results for 2015were: Cleanliness: • Maidstone – 99.2% • TunbridgeWells – 98.78% • *Tonbridge Cottage Hospital – 100%
National average – 97.57% Food: • Maidstone – 91.66% • TunbridgeWells – 91.45%
Records just a
click away HEALTH records of about 500 pa- tients in Maidstone and West Kent are now online to help NHS profes- sionals. The care plan management system
is to be expanded by care practition- ers (including GPs). Early emphasis has been on patients most likely to benefit from this touch-of-a-button information system. Early evidence shows that ambu-
lance service staff have already iden- tified the value of the system. It is also expected to be of great value as more services are transferred in to the community and as GP surgeries form themselves in to federations.
Winning hearts
AFTER the annual assessment of West Kent CCG, NHS England has commented on an acknowledge- ment that further work is needed “to win hearts and minds of local GP members to deliver the primary and community care aspirations”. The NHS says: “A more focused clinical leadership line with member practices and newly-formed federa- tions should take forward your aspi- rations for community provision systems.”
Health message
WESTKent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is supporting the pub- lic health message that “if people look after themselves they are also looking after the NHS”. The local health and wellbeing
board is taking this forward with public health campaigns on obesity and smoking cessation.
32 Malling October 2015
• *Tonbridge Cottage Hospital – 89.31% National average – 88.49% Privacy, dignity andwellbeing: • Maidstone – 86.96% • TunbridgeWells – 94.13% • *Tonbridge Cottage Hospital – 86.43% National average – 86.03% Condition, appearance and maintenance: • Maidstone – 89.35% • TunbridgeWells – 94.42% • *Tonbridge Cottage Hospital – 97.73% National average – 90.11% Dementia friendliness: • Maidstone – 84.48% •TunbridgeWells – 92.44% • *Tonbridge Cottage Hospital – 91.98% National average – 74.51%
Although the condition, appear-
ance and maintenance at Maid- stone Hospital scored slightly below the national average (by 0.76%), it has the cleanest hospital wards of any of Kent’s acute hospi- tals, scoring 99.2%. The second phase of a multi-million pound ward modernisation programme is also underway. The national Place report identi-
fied lower scores in hospital envi- ronments for dementia patients as an area for improvement nation- ally. All three hospitals scoredwell in
this area. They also had the best scores for privacy and dignity and ward food compared with Kent and Medway’s acute hospitals. Jeanette Rooke, director of estates and facilities, added: “This year,we
have exceeded results in every cat- egory except one and the refur- bishment programme currently on-going at Maidstone will im- prove lots of areas and ward envi- ronments for our patients and visitors.” Recent improvements to the pa-
tient environment include new wayfinding and external signs; chilled water dispensers on wards; refurbished main entrance with im- proved retail and café facilities (Maidstone); replaced patient chairs and tables; refurbished ad- missions lounge; and new dis- charge lounge (Maidstone). *Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells
NHS Trust has a ward at Tonbridge Cottage Hospital for stroke patients, and this was assessed as part of the Place report.
Photo: Andy Archer Colour run for hospice
AN explosion of colour filled Mote Park when about 1,000 runners were showered in powder paint to raise money for Heart of Kent Hospice. Now in its second year, friends,
families and workmates gathered at the pre-event party for an energetic warm up before walking, running or skipping around the 5km route. Volunteers from local companies
Westerhill Homes, Samsian Ltd, DSH Chartered Accountant and Gulland mannedthe paint stations and splat- tered the runners with paint. Ann-Marie Kelly, director of income
generation at Heart of Kent Hospice, said: “Itwas fantastic to see somany people enjoying the sunshine, getting messy and having fun to support the work of Heart of Kent Hospice. We hadasurge of participants sign up on the day, and sponsorship money is still coming in.We’re hoping to have raised more than £30,000.” Crossing the finish line was a per-
sonal challenge for Susan Carr who, despite serious back problems, com- pleted the route injust underan hour. Susan worked on the hospice’s inpa-
tient unit until she was forced to re- tired due to ill health about four years ago. She said: “I lovedworking at the hospice andmy heart will always be there. I’m alsowalking in memory of my Dad who died three years ago fromprostate cancer.” Among the runners were the Sta- plehurst Striders, a group of 50 friends and family. Organiser of the group Julie Loeser said: “There was a wonderful, relaxed atmosphere and we had an incredible time.” The red paint station was staffed
by Danny Tickner and his team from sponsors Samsian Ltd. Danny, whose sister Maxine died in the hospice in 2010, said: “My family are always keen to support the hospice’s event as it is our way of saying thank you for the wonderful care my sister re- ceived.”
lence School also enjoyed the day. Julie Manning, speaking on behalf of the group, said: “All the girls enjoy running and this event is somuch fun. We had a great time and it’s for such a great cause.”
Targets missed FOUR key health targets were missed in Maidstone and West Kent in July: Cancer: two-weekwaiting times performances; A&E: new four-hourwaiting time performance; Ambulances: SECAmb per- formance below standard on all measures. CategoryA Red 1 am- bulance calls (eight-minute target) were 75% below target; Hospital beds: new “delayed transfer of care” performance.
111 service AFTER a marked dip in perform- ance of the 111 telephone service during the winter there has since been a slow recovery, West Kent CCG has been informed. The new target is that 90% of
callers needing clinical advice will either speak to a clinician during the initial call or be called back within 10 minutes.
Help for homes
WEST Kent CCG is distributing a care pathways guidance booklet to care homes in the area.
Shopmobility THE town centre Shopmobility scheme has now ended and the scooters have been offered to Age Concern, for use or for sale.
Students and staff fromSuttonVa- History talk
WATERINGBURY Local History Society meets on Wednesday, Oc- tober 21, when Peter Jones will talk about A Year In Chartwell. The meeting starts at 8pm atWatering- bury Village Hall.
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