downsmail.co.uk Substance misuse figures rise


DRUG offences have fallen by a third in Maidstone – but figures show there has been a large rise in substance misuse. Substance misuse relates not only


The majority of the year’s 734 hos-


to the use of drugs, but also alcohol and new psychoactive substances (NPS), so-called legal highs. While there is a clear connection


between criminal activity and the use of alcohol and NPS, both of these substances are legal. Kent Police recorded a 35.3% re- duction in drug offences in Maid- stone between September 2014 and August 2015, 279 offences as op- posed to 431. However, despite the reduction in recorded drug offences, therewas a higher number of admissions to hos- pital formental and behavioural dis- orders relating to psychoactive substances, according to a report which came before the council.


pital admissions came from the High Street ward, which covers the town centre and from where there were 121 admissions during the year. Fant yielded 59 admissions, fol-


lowed by Eastward with 54. Marden and Yalding produced 53 admis- sions, on a par with Shepway North and Shepway South. The 734 admissions related to 487 individuals, compared with 542 ad- missions relating to 398 people the previous year. “There is a clear connection be-


tween the wards with the highest anti-social behaviour rates and the wards with the highest substance misuse admissions,” memberswere told.


Menaged between 45 and 64 have


the highest rates of substance mis- use-related hospital admissions, fol- lowed by men aged 25-44. Fewer women were admitted to hospital as a result of psychoactive substance misuse – 34% of all ad- missions – but more women aged 25-64were admitted to hospital than men as a result of alcohol abuse. Atotal of 35 women aged 25 to 44


were admitted to hospital in the year because of alcohol issues and a fur- ther 23 women aged 45 to 64. The report to the council con- cludes: “The rise ofNPSuse over the past seven years is a potential con- tributor to the reduction in drug of- fences. Many people are misled by the term ‘legal high’ and consider


Beatles uncovered by author Neil


FOR a man who once wrote a book about the 500 weirdest albums ever made, a tome about myths and legends involving the Beatles would seem like a mere bagatelle to Neil Nixon (pictured). The 56-year-old’s latest work,


The Beatles – Myths and Legends, explores the bizarre conspiracy the- ories, amazing and far-fetched tales and little known truths about the Fab Four. The Bearsted father of two said:


“I’m a bit of amusic obsessive. “The strange, the weird and the


bizarre are not comfortable terri- tory for some people, but I’m quite


happy there.” Published by Gonzo, the book is


Neil’s 25th published work as au- thor or editor. Neil, who is married to Jane and


has two grown-up sons Owen and Thom, explains: “Writing this book took a long time but it succeeds in gathering material that has never previously been put together in this way and covers some amazing sto- ries – like a tale suggesting George Harrison was replaced by an im- poster on some records.” Neil, who lectures in professional writing at North Kent College, also hosts a community radio pro-


less complicated, the changed traffic paerns will still affect the local highway system, much of which is within the borough of Maidstone. By all means support the Lower Thames Crossing, but the council should be campaigning for improvements to the junctions I describe to avoid imposing delay and danger on residents. John Payne


Dispute over blood tests


Dear Sir – I recently called the Stocke Lane surgery in Coxheath for a blood test, requested by the hospital, and for another in connection with my diabetes. Iwas told by the receptionist that the surgery no longer co-operated with the hospital in taking blood. I pointed out that I was a patient of the surgery and that they had been taking tests for the hospital to monitor my condition every three months for over a year. After some argument the receptionist agreed that the surgery would take my blood on this occasion but not in future.


gramme on Miskin Radio in Dart- ford, which Gonzo syndicates around the world. The resulting book covers an in-


credible range of little-known facts, including a top 10 of records widely and wrongly believed to feature The Beatles. One of them even fooled Yoko Ono into believing she was listening to her dead husband. The book contains chapters on


each individual Beatle and a final chapter charting a collection of recordings that convinced some people that the band continued to record for almost a decade after they split up.


On aending the surgery, I enquired as to


the reason andwas told that a lady with suspected scarlet fever had aended the surgery, but as the blood for the laboratories had already been collected shewas directed to the hospital as itwas considered that the maerwas urgent. The hospital refused to take the lady’s blood for analysis and so the Coxheath surgery and possibly others had decided not to co-operate with the hospital. Two elements of the same NHS service


seem to be at loggerheads with each other. What is the point of having a single health service if they behave like this. Can it really be a question of cost? If so, surely it is cheaper for the surgery to carry out the taking of blood rather than have two appointments. Why should patients be inconvenienced because a surgery and the hospital are in dispute? The results of the blood tests are recorded


at the surgery and are also received by the hospital doctor, so why is it necessary to have a blood test at the hospital when it can easily be taken by the visiting phlebotomist? Colin Trelfer by email


GP practices in west Kent do not routinely carry out blood tests ordered by the hospital and never have. In Maidstone and Malling, practices have a visiting phlebotomist to come in and take blood test samples that the GPs require. The person ordering the test is responsible for interpreting the result – so, in the case of a test ordered by the hospital, it will be the hospital doctor who needs to see the result and communicate with the patient and GP.


Response by Dr Andrew Roxburgh, diagnostics, pathology and phlebotomy clinical lead for NHSWest Kent Clinical Commissioning Group


Thanks for the memories


Dear Sir – I am retiring as a Maidstone councillor after 23 years and I would like to express my thanks to many friends and supporters for the memorable experience. The highlights have to be the yearswhen first


I and then my late husband Peter served as mayors. So many happy memories. Mrs Daphne Parvin, Maidstone.


Maidstone East May 2016 35


that as the substance is legal it should also be safe. “Anecdotal information from frontline practitioners, police officers and drug and alcohol support groups have suggested that NPS have played a part in violent crime in the borough, as well as creating further mental health issues.” The Maidstone Substance Misuse


ActionPlan brings together partners and priorities to tackle the problems created by substance misuse. Outreach workers have been em-


ployed to engage with the street population and drug and alcohol ed- ucation has been stepped up in pri- mary schools. A needle bin in Brenchley Gardens has reduced nee- dle finds on the street by 50%.


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