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News


Death sparks calls for more meningitis jabs


A NATIONWIDE call to make the meningitis B vaccine available to all children has been launched after the tragic death of a Maidstone toddler.


The heartbroken parents of little


Faye Burdett released photos of their daughter’s suffering to high- light the need for all children, not just babies, to be given the life-sav- ing vaccine. Itwas decided in September 2015,


that all babies born after July 1 should be offered the Meningitis B vaccine aged two months old, with boosters at four months and 12 months as a part of the routineNHS childhood vaccination programme. But the decision came too late for


two-year old Faye, from Kent Av- enue, Shepway, who died onValen- tine’s day, just 11 days after her first symptoms emerged. Faye developed a rash on her forehead at the start of the month. When her condition worsened, par- ents Jenny and Neil took her to Maidstone Hospital, from where she was transferred to the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London. Despite battling bravely against


cision: a massive operation and she may die orwe let her go peacefully of her own accord.We decided the latter andwatched our little girl slip away.” At the moment, parents who


the disease, Faye contracted sepsis (blood poisoning), commonly asso- ciated with meningitis. Mrs Burdett said:“Wewere given


a 1% survival rate but she carried on fighting. After a few days she seemed to have turned a corner, but the sepsis started to affect her more. The decision of limb removal was made, but the extent of removalwas massive – full leg amputation and one arm and plastic surgery. “But shewas getting tired, her lit-


tle body consumed by meningitis and sepsis.We had to make the de-


want their children vaccinated must get it done privately. Three doses are needed, costing between £95 and £160 each time, according to the charity Meningitis Now. An online petition, launched by a


family friend, calling for the vaccine to be offered to all children up to the age of 11, had attracted more than 275,000 signatures as the Downs Mailwent to press. Family friend Charlene Reed has


set up a fundraising page for the Evelina Children’s Hospital, which has raised more than £4,000. https://www.justgiving.com/in-re- memberence-of-Faye/ The petition can be found at https://petition.parliament.uk/peti- tions/108072


Fringe benefits for six days


BANDS are in rehearsals for the sixth Maidstone Fringe Festival, set to run for six days across the May bank holidayweekend. Celebrating the diversity of new


and original music in Kent and the South East, the festival will feature live performances at venues in- cluding The Style &Winch, Earls, The Druids Arms, The Flowerpot, The Source Bar, Drakes, The White Horse, The Art Lounge, Pizza Ex- press, The Royal Albion and The Pilot. Incorporated within the fes- tival are a number of all-day


Thief jailed


A MAN who stole food and wine from shops in Maidstone has been jailed for 15 days. Dale Cooper (52), from Knightrider Street, in the town, pleaded guilty to three counts of shoplifting. Medway magistrates’ heard that


on January 30, Cooper stole food, valued at £16 from a supermarket in TheMall and a bottle of wine from a shop in Week Street the following day. He also stole a bottle of wine from a supermarket in Romney Place, Maidstone. Magistrates sentenced Cooper to


15 days in prison and ordered him to pay £5 compensation and an £80 victim surcharge.


20 Maidstone Town March 2016


events and dance all-nighters, as well as family-friendly entertain- ment at many of the town centre’s cafes and coffee shops. Much of the music will be free. Among the businesses support-


ing this year’s Fringe Festival, from April 27 to May 2, is Clive Emson Auctioneers, which has come on board as the major sponsor. Artists confirmed so far include


Coco And The Butterfields, Nick Harper and Gentlemen Of Few, new blues acts Salvation Jayne and


Flawless Carbon, alongside estab- lished favourites such as David Migden & The Twisted Roots, Funke & The 2 Tone Baby and indie/alternative artists Theatre Royal, We Are Bandicoot, Jody’s Flat, Aux and Upcdownc. Flying the flag for folk and acoustic music will be The Dredgermen, Tobys Starks & Friends and Vaughan Batchelor, along with a huge ska and reggae event at The Source Bar, featuring Winston Francis, Dennis Bovell, and Carl St Clair. Visit www.maidstonefringe.com.


MP calls for rail action


PASSENGER train services in Kent are going off the rails, according to localMPHelen Whately (pictured). After South- eastern scored the country’s second- worst passenger satisfaction rat- ing, the Mid Kent MP called on transport minis- ter


Patrick


McLoughlin to take action. More than 15,000 people have


signed a petition demanding the re- moval of the franchise from South- eastern and the MP wants to know if the rail operator is in breach of its franchise agreement.


Speaking in a debate in the


House of Commons, Mrs Whately said: “My constituents use the Southeastern network. Day after day their trains are being delayed, particularly at peak times. “This morning all trains between Maidstone East and London be- tween 6.30 am and 7.30 am were cancelled. These are unacceptable levels of service.” In the Transport Focus survey,


67% of passengers were satisfied with the punctuality of Southeast- ern trains, a fall from 72% in 2014. Overall satisfaction stayed at 75%. More passengers were happy


with ticket-buying facilities after Southeastern got new machines.


downsmail.co.uk


Life-saving new treatment


AYALDING man has been given a new lease of life thanks to a revolu- tionary new treatment for heart failure.


Richard Reach (59), of the Little


Venice marina, Hampstead Lane, had advanced heart failure when the procedure was carried out at King’s College Hospital in London. MrReach had a heart attack at the beginning of last year and, on ad- mission to King’s, was found to have two blocked heart vessels. Heunderwent surgery to unblock


the vessels but his heart muscles were severely impaired and the valves leaking, meaning further surgery was necessary. Conven- tional treatments, such as open heart surgery and pacemaker inser- tion,were deemed too high-risk. The cardiac team at King’s was granted permission from the Medi- cines and Healthcare Products Reg- ulatory Agency to use a Mitra-SpacerTM device, a balloon shaped instrument the size of a small chilli pepper, whichwas suc- cessfully inserted via keyhole sur- gery in June 2015. His condition improved signifi-


cantly and, by November,MrReach was deemed strong enough to have conventional surgery. The device was removed and a regular valve replacement opera- tion was performed. Mr Reach is now recoveringwell at home. The cardiac team at King’s was


the first in the world to use the new device to improve the strength of the heart valve.


Retail park jobs


MOREthan 100 new jobs are on the way with the development of three new retail units atAylesford. The site at the corner of Her- mitage Lane and London Road will include a drive-through restaurant and two budget stores, replacing eight bungalows owned by Royal British Legion Industries. Fast food chain McDonald’s plans


to create 75 full and part-time roles at its drive-through outlet which is expected to open in May. Other units will be occupied by Poundstretcher, also due to open in May with the creation of 20 roles, and Aldi which hopes to create 50 jobs, with more details expected shortly. Planning permission for four commercial properties, a 130-space car park, service yard and access road from Hermitage Lane was granted in 2012.Afourth retailer has yet to be confirmed.


Slabs replaced


PAVING slabs taken from the en- trance to Tovil church yard are to be replaced by Maidstone Council. Adate for the start of the work in Church Lane is awaited.


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