News


downsmail.co.uk GP practice cutswalk-in service


A GP surgery which was criticised by health inspectors for not having enough appointments has axed itswalk-in service. West Malling Group Practice,


which has medical centres in West Malling, Kings Hill and Leybourne, introduced the walk-in clinics two years ago to relieve pressure on the system. But it says these came at the expense of pre-booked ap- pointments, and its decision to scrap them is supported by most patients. It will allow


booking fourweeks ahead andmake it easier to book online. In a nine-page open letter to the group’s 19,000 patients, the group’s managing partner, Dr Thomas Re- ichhelm (pictured), outlined the growing pressure on the group, in- cluding a “very scary workload” and the tough decisions whichwere


Flats scheme


THE site of a demolished pub at Blue Bell Hill has been earmarked for a new block of flats. An application has been submit-


ted to Tonbridge and Malling Council to build 13 flats on the land where the Upper Bell stood until it was demolished three years ago. The proposals include 22 parking spaces. The boarded-up site has had a chequered history since the pub ceased trading 12 years ago, leav- ing villagers complaining that it was an eyesore. In 2012, residents were angered


when squatters took over the prem- ises and six people were arrested over drugs offences. A year later, neighbours also objected to a plan to turn the plot into a storage yard.


Council pride


CIVIC pride has been boosted at East Peckham where the parish council is in line for four national accolades. The council has made it onto the longlist of the Star CouncilAwards run by the National Association of Local Councils, while chairman Stephanie Watson and her col- league Cllr Penny Graham are in the running for councillor of the year. Parish clerk Karen Bell has also


been included in the longlist for clerk of the year. The awards, which are in their second year, recognise the achieve- ments of the town and parish coun- cil sector. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Octo- ber 19.


8 Malling October 2016


being made in a bid to make the practice more accessible. Dr Reichhelm said the group had


seen its budget slashed by 25% over the last three years. It had been forced to switch from a contract which rewarded it for providing extra services such asECGsand tak- ing blood, to a standard one. He said that GPs faced a “perfect storm” with the national training/re- cruitment and retention crisis for key clinical personnel, plus “a very scary workload increase of 10 to 20%”. Thiswas combined with a signifi-


cant increase in demand in general and a shift of tasks and responsibili- ties from the secondary hospital sec- tor into primary care. The group’s services were de-


cribed aswell-led, effective and car- ing by the Care Quality Commission after an inspection in June, but was rated as “requiring improvement”


partly because there were not enough appointments. Dr Reichhelm said: “These factors provide an explanation for some of the thingswe are doing and will do over the next time period.We are de- termined to take these challenges in our stride, but will need everyone to understand and to help us with it.” The practice was also reviewing


howit deals with letters, test results, repeat prescriptions and telephones, with back-office staff drafted in to help answer calls during busy times. Turning to the future of the group’s three centres, Dr Reichhelm said there were two challenges – aging accommodation and the stretch of staff across three sites. He was aware of rumours of clo-


sures, but reassured patients that nothingwas imminent.However, he said that “working across three sites at the time of resource reduction, is


proving to be tough and probably not sustainable at present.” The practice would maintain a presence in West Malling High Street andwas not planning to close the Leybourne site. Itwas looking at expanding its centre at Kings Hill, which had a growing population. Dr Reichhelm added: “As a clini-


cal teamwe would like to have more activity under one roof which will enhance quality, reduce stress and allow for better team development, teaching and training. Looking ahead,we are seeing more and more and more collaboration of practices and even mergers to better be able to provide more with less.We are also talking to our neighbours and I have no doubt that before long, certain services will start to be provided across a larger patch which is logi- cal.”


More health news, page 33 Surgery achieves a ‘good’ rating


WATERINGBURYSurgery has been officially judged “good” overall after its latest inspection by the Care Quality Commission. The practice received a glowing


report for providing effective, car- ing, responsive and well-led serv- ices, which were pronounced “good” by inspectors in December 2015. However, at that time, it was found to require improvements for providing safe services. A desk-based inspection by the commission in July confirmed that the practice, whose registered man- ager is Dr Katie Collier, had fol-


lowed the action plan it had pro- vided and was now good in all five categories. Based at Pelican Court with a branch surgery at the George Hold- ing Centre, Larkfield, the practice has 6,500 patients. Issues identified in December in- cluded that medicines awaiting col-


lection by patientswere stored in la- belled bags and left at the back of re- ception. Electrical equipment had not been checked to ensure it was safe and no action had been taken after infection control audits identi- fied risks. The latest report said the surgery


had obtained lockable filing cabinets to store prepared medicines se- curely, updated infection control risk assessments at both premises to ensure they identified the risks asso- ciated with clinical basins and carpet in the treatment room, and had car- ried out portable appliance tests.


Bloom awards result of hardwork


MORE than 38,000 hours of work by landscapers and community volunteers at Kings Hill has paid off with two top awards in the South and South East in Bloom competition. The development was awarded


gold in the Business Landscape of the Year category and silver gilt in the village/town/city centre category. Judges, who included TV


gardener Jim Buttress, noted “the well-designed landscaping and beautiful surroundings, combined with the excellent choices and variety of plants offering impact and creating colour and interest throughout the year.” They also praised the inclusion of conservation areas and were impressed by the encouragement


given to schoolchildren with the introduction of raised allotment beds and fruit trees planted in the grounds of The Discovery School. Susan Davies, property and


estatemanager for Kings Hill developer Liberty Property Trust, said: “This year 11,000 shrubs, 6,550 spring bulbs and 135 trees


(Fromleft) Nick Freeman of Coblands Landscapes; Susan Davies, Susan Deakin, judges Jim Buttress and Ian White, and Colin Viccars, of Coblands Landscapes.


were put in as well as swathes of wild flowers. There is a recently created rose garden around the listed Control Tower, which is proving very popular.” Liberty is advised by project ecologist Susan Deakin and the landscaping carried out by Coblands Landscape.


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