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News Surgery cuts


will go deep By Dennis Fowle


THE wide range of non-urgent sur- gery is to be seriously reduced until April by the local Clinical Commis- sioning Group (CCG), which needs to save about £4m before the end of the financial year in April. This will also reduce pressure on


local hospitals, but the trust will not be authorised to sub-contract to the independent sector up to April. In addition, all male and female sterilisation and reversals are stopped to the end of 2017/18. The GP-led NHSWest Kent CCG


is also looking at:  Cataract surgery - restricting ac- cess depending on vision loss.  Surgery restriction – new criteria offering help to the overweight and smokers to avoid the need for sur- gery or to ensure better results from operations. This was in the pipeline for hip and knee replacements.  IVF – funding just one round of IVF with an age limit of 42.  Prescriptions – not prescribing medicines that can be bought over the counter, unless there is no other way to meet a clinical need eg painkillers, hayfever treatments, nicotine replacement therapy. Food supplements will be reviewed.  Injections – stopping hip injec- tions and spinal cord stimulation un- less under NHS England criteria. Outpatient services will also be re-


viewed. The CCG faces significant extra


costs in acute (hospital) care, mental health as well as healthcare. It wants to continue to develop serv- ices outside hospitals. Dr Bob Bowes, CCG chairman,


said if it overspent budget now, more severe cuts would be needed later. “We have looked carefully at ensuring least impact on patients.” He added that health and social


care organisations across Kent and Medway were now working to- gether to re-organise services so that they support patients better, mostly in their own home and communi- ties. Key beneficiaries would be the frail and elderly.  Dr Bowes called for wiser use of services, especially at A&E, where 40% of patients left without treat- ment. He recommends the website www.healthhelpnow.nhs.uk to in- vestigate symptoms and the nearest place for help.


Beth’s classes


MAIDSTONEartist Beth Hannant is offering art classes for accomplished artists and novices in 2017. Beth, from Langley, will be taking


classes ofupto eight people for three hours aweek over sixweeks. Contact the artist, who trained at


the Royal College ofArt and theVic- toria and Albert Museum, on 01622 863096 or beth.hannant@gmail.com.


8 Maidstone February 2017


downsmail.co.uk


Leeds Castle’s cuts as revenues tumble


LEEDS Castle management starts 2017 with the prospect of making savings after a year of increased visitor numbers but reduced income. That was the stark warning from


the treasure house’s chief executive Sir David Steel, writing in the Leeds and Broomfield parish magazine. Terrorism in European cities such


as Nice, in southern France, de- terred tourists who would normally bring higher spending power than British visitors. Now significant capital projects


are to be shelved and ways of find- ing savings are also being sought, said Sir David. The castle boss also takes the op- portunity to apologise for the traf- fic issues that events – such as the recent Christmas market – bring to local roads. Sir David writes in the January edition:"We head into the new year with the joy of increased visitor numbers since last year, but re- duced income. Terrorism in Europe earlier in 2016 meant significantly reduced numbers of overseas visi- tors, who tend to bring with them significant purchasing power. "Certain capital projects have had


to be postponed andwe are looking at furtherways of making savings. “I am delighted to say, therefore,


that, through the real hard work of all who work here, we will make nearly £20,000 of savings in energy costs compared with 2015/16 and we will be making further changes to make us even more energy-effi-


community. He writes: "There have been complaints, of course, mostly to do with traffic congestion on the A20 and for this, I apologise. “We do all we possibly can to manage traffic, to ease the flow of cars along the A20 and through the lanes around the estate, but the roads configuration is not in our favour. I just hope that our neigh- bours and those who pass Leeds Castle...will understand.” Ukip borough councillor Eddie


Leeds Castle CEO Sir David Steel


cient." Sir David acknowledged again the issue of castle traffic to the local


Powell, who lives near the castle, said: “Perhaps Leeds Castle’s rea- sons for the income reduction could sound like excuses. Sometimes peo- ple can hide behind issues like ter- rorism while the poor old castle staff will worry they’re for the chop.”


Smart security measures


LEEDS Castle has invested in its own unique formula of Smart- Water to protect key assets on the 500-acre estate near Maid- stone. In a warning to potential


thieves, the castle’s security team announced that the invisi- ble marker is being used to strengthen its security measures. Kelvin Wood, security man- ager at the 12th century castle,


said: “Smartwater technology is a cost-effective deterrent and fits in as part of our overall security measures to protect the castle and its artefacts.” However, he would not be


drawn on what items have been marked. SmartWater glows yellow


under UV light and only a trace is required to identify where it was stolen from.


Apprentice Stephanie wins award


AMAIDSTONE woman is one of four Kent County Council apprentices who have won awards for their work. The Apprentice of the Year awards, which recognise


the contribution that apprentices make to the council, were presented by its leader Paul Carter at a ceremony attended by the winners’ families and managers. Stephanie Broom (22) has worked for the council for


18 months and is studying a level 3 qualification in business administration. She helps arrange school admission and transport appeals and won the award for the strategic and corporate directorate. She said: “I love it. I enjoyed studying childcare at


college and when I read the job description for this post, I really liked how it involves working with children and families.” Other winners were Zoe Hardingham from


Folkestone, Ellie-Jo Isaacs from Ashford and Emma Payne, from Rochester. Cllr Carter said: “Not only are we proud of the way


KCC has embraced the apprenticeship scheme, but we have been trying to convince the government that apprenticeships are the best way for many young people to enter the workplace, as long as they receive the mentoring and support they need.”


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