News
Hospital cleans up after report
THE chief inspector of hospitals has given Maidstone Hospital a clean bill of health, after it was found to be failing in its efforts to control potentially lethal bacteria. Infection by Legionella bacteria
causes Legionnaires’ Disease – a potentially fatal form of pneumo- nia.
Inspectors who visited the hospi-
tal in October last year found the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Trust to be in breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, in failing to ensure the quality and safety of itswater supply. The failure was revealed in the review of surgical services, where the CQC inspection team visited a number of areas of the hospital, concluding that the failure meant all areas of the hospital could be af- fected. A spokesman said: “During the inspection in October 2014 we asked for information and evidence that the registered provider had ap- propriate systems in place to en- sure that service users, persons employed for the purpose of carry- ing on the regulated activity and others who may be at risk of expo-
sure, are protected against identifi- able risks of acquiring a healthcare- associated infection. “Our enquiries included the management of water safety and quality at Maidstone Hospital and were specifically targeted at the management of Legionella. We were not provided with the neces- sary assurances or evidence relat- ing to the systems and processes the registered provider had put in place relating to water safety and quality.” A warning notice was served
which set out the grounds upon which the trustwas in breach of the regulation. When inspectors from the CQC returned in June, they found sys- tems had been put in place to en- sure compliance with the regulations, minimising the risk of infection. They also found “an area of outstanding practice”. Professor Sir Mike Richards, chief inspector of hospitals, reported: “The development of the estates dashboard as a system for collating required tasks for all systems across the trustwas an outstanding piece of work.”
The shower block with some of those who helped to get it built Sailorswelcome showers
SAILORS needing to spend a penny can use a new facility in Yalding, thanks to the Medway River Users Association (MRUA). The association, with help from
the Environment Agency and stu- dents from Mid Kent College, has produced a new toilet and shower block on the banks of the river, helped by donations in cash and kind from local businesses and sup- porters. The boaters’ shower block con-
sists of two rooms, each with a shower and toilet. Work on the building was started
in 2014 and completed in October this year. The block was unveiled by Mark Smurthwaite, chairman of the MRUA.
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16 Maidstone South December 2015
It would have cost in the region of £50,000 to build the block from scratch, but grants came from British Canoeing, Canoe England SE and Hampstead and Yalding Cruis- ing Club. Other companies providing their expertise and management skills were the Lee Evans Partnership, Astra Building Contractors Ltd, Skills for Employment, LJPL Ltd, Travis Perkins and Black and Veatch. The students from Mid Kent Col-
lege provided the labour, receiving industry training in the process, and the MRUA provided the remainder of the funds. Mr Smurthwaite said: “This is a
great little facility, built for the boat- ing community and funded by the community.”
downsmail.co.uk
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