News | Health


downsmail.co.uk GPs at heart of integrated plan


MOST 61 GP practices in Maid- stone and the rest ofWest Kent are likely to work in much closer co- operation as a new ‘vision for a vi- brant and sustainable future for primary care’ falls in to place. A key aim is to improve care for people with complex health needs, particularly frail older people. These tend to have two or more health conditions and need care from a whole team of health and care professionals, working in a joined-upway It sees building teams of commu-


nity and complex care nurses around clusters of GP practices who serve populations of 30/80,000, depending on geography. It forecasts: “The system allows


Must do beer DESPITE an overall ‘good’ rating from NHS England the GP-led West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been told to raise performance in: Cancer waiting times, which fell


in April to 68% for the 62-day target. The local hospital trust has ap- pointed a new clinical director for surgery and is taking other steps to improve these times. Dementia diagnosis rate. The na-


tional standard is 66.67% and the CCG rate is 60.1%. A new clinical lead has been appointed for demen- tia to support GPs and primary care. A&E waiting times. These have improved to 91.6% but still below the 95% national target. Key prob- lems include lack of inpatient and community beds and social care packages of care/placements/ assess- ment beds; timely review of patients inA&E by speciality teams; and the high number of delayed transfers of care that contribute to delays in pa- tient admission to hospital. Diagnostic waiting times which,


at 98.72%, are marginally below the national target of 99%. Ambulancewaiting times are still


below standard, are now improving but still below standard. The same story applies to the NHS 111 tele- phone service.


Service stretched PROBLEMS of getting GP appoint- ments in the centre of Maidstone have been accepted by the NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group. It says these services were stretched and it would seek to rec- tify through its primary care strat- egy. A member of public asked if there was scope to increase catch- ment areas for these GP practices. Chairman Dr Bob Bowes said as the need for GP services rose prac- tices needed to control workload to maintain quality.


24 Malling July 2016


easy access to the right clinician at the right time, while patients with complex needs are managed proac- tively in the community by a wider, multi-disciplinary team headed by their GP and appropriate special- ist.”


The GP-led West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) sees “integrated, productive and holis- tic health and social care services delivered close to people’s homes.” Expected benefits include greater


prevention and self-care, reducing reliance on hospitals and the rest of the secondary sector. TheCCGsays that although most people often use primary care to mean general practice, the sector includes “a rich diversity of profes-


sionals including also nurses, opti- cians, pharmacists through to allied health professionals and social care workers”. It adds: “Primary care works closely with community care, social care and mental health providers, yet commissioning and provision of these services are neither inte- grated nor strategically aligned.” The CCG says primary care in


West Kent has a high-calibre, com- mitted workforce and high-quality general practice, compared to the national picture. But it identifies weaknesses in- cluding lack of integration, mean- ing they do not provide a seamless experience for patients which could lead to greater productivity and


Awards for volunteers


MORE than 80 staff and volunteers from Heart of Kent Hospice were recognised and celebrated at a 25th Anniversary Awards event at Maid- stone’s Oakwood House. The Lady Monckton


Awards pay tribute to the outstanding service and commitment of staff and volunteers. The hospice has pro-


vided care since 1991 to patients and their loved ones from throughout Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling. Volunteer weekend re- ceptionist


Lynne


Lawrence was thrilled to pick up her 25-year award. She said: “It’s nice to know that your contribution is valued.” Social worker Liz Tolhurst, who received a five-year award, said: “It has


been a privilege to work at the hospice for the past five years and to sup- port patients and families during their most difficult times.” The awards were presented by Marianna, Viscountess Monckton of Brenchley, Patron of the hospice.


£2.7m for brain damage


A BOY of nine who was left brain- damaged at birth at a Kent hospital has won a £2.7m pay-out. Hewas left injured with life-long disabilities when his brain was starved of oxygen during his mother’s labour. He is now dependent on carers


and needs to be fed through a tube. A High Court judge, Mr Justice Garnham, has ordered Maidstone and TunbridgeWells NHS Trust to pay out the £2.7m sum with index- linked tax-free annual payments to provide care for the rest of his life. The judge said itwas in the boy’s


best interests to accept the settle- ment. TheNHSwas also ordered to pay out the six-figure legal costs in- curred in the case. The judge told the court the “dis-


aster which befell” the unnamed boy had left him profoundly dis- abled and that the pay-out meant that he would be properly looked after for the rest of his life. The trust did not accept blame


for his injuries but agreed the pay- out to avoid the necessity for the claim to go to trial. The amount of money paid out


was the equivalent of 90% of what his family would have received if the courts had found the trust li- able, said the NHS legal team. The boy was born in Tunbridge


Wells. The NHS accepted the lad has


had “huge burdens” to carry through the neurological damage which has “impacted on him to an extreme extent”.


quality. Demands on health serv- ices are increasing, but no new pri- mary care investment has been made. The GP workforce is over- loaded. It forecasts: “The system al- lows easy access to the right clinician at the right time, while pa- tients with complex needs are man- aged pro-actively in the community by a wider, multidisci- plinary team headed by their GP and appropriate specialist.” THECCGis considering piloting for six months two crisis cafes – one in Maidstone and another in Tun- bridgeWelTls – to help as places of safety in the care of mental health patients. The cafes could initially open from 6pm to 10pm on Fri- days, Saturdays and Sundays.


Ambulance


inquiry call A TOP union official has de- manded that management running the ambulance service serving Kent is put under government scrutiny after damning accusations. The GMB's


Paul Maloney (right) said South East Coast Am- bulance Service (SECAmb) claimed staff and the public had lost confidence and a health service select commit- tee inquiry was required. SECamb faces a probe by the


powerful Care Quality Commis- sion, the official government- fundedwatchdog. The trust said it was working


hard to address the issues raised. SECamb's dispatch system was deemed “unfit for purpose”, says the BBC report, and staff have been subject to bullying and harassment. Out-of-date equipment and long


call response rates were alleged to be causing problems. Aspokesman for the Department


of Health told the BBC: "We await the full report…but it seems clear that poor leadership at the South East Coast Ambulance Service has put safety at risk, which is totally unacceptable.”  CONCERN about closure of the Dorothy Lucy Centre, Maidstone, on July 31 and continuing need for the care it provides was expressed in a public question at a meeting of the GP-led NHS West Kent Clini- cal Commissioning Group (CCG). Chairman Dr Bob Bowes said the group shared these concerns and had made representations to KCC. There was a continuing need for KCC to purchase this type of care and ensure sufficient bed capacity. The group will follow this up with KCC.


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