News


Hospital gets a good report


WATCHDOGS have given Maid- stone Hospital a clean bill of health but made recommenda- tions to ensure patients are more comfortable. Healthwatchkent’s survey shows


that 97% of users felt they had been given the full attention of staff and their privacy had been respected. More than 80% of users said the in- formation they received was clear and easy to understand, while 70% felt they had been involved in the decisions about their care. Levels of satisfaction were gen-


erally higher in Maidstone than at Tunbridge Wells. The body sent teams to both Maidstone and Tun- bridgeWells hospitals to talk to pa- tients about their experiences of using the NHS services provided there. But Healthwatchkent – an inde- pendent voice for local people on health matters – did make several recommendations for Maidstone to consider. It suggests signs to clinics and toilet facilities are clear, visible and easy to follow, especially to the visually-impaired. Appointment letters should include details about


parking and patients should be given information “consistently” aboutwaiting times. Temperatures in thewaiting areas should be con- trolled, with entrance doors kept open in hot weather, and a drinks machine should also be considered, the watchdog said. The hospital should also consider wheelchair spaces in thewaiting areas, to min- imise obstruction to patient flows. Healthwatchkent’s report states: “The clinics were clean and tidy. Observations by some patients were that thewaiting area could do with being ‘a bit more cheery’, es- pecially for patients with a longer wait.


“There were plenty of posters


and information around the wait- ing areas. There was a drinking fountain, toilets and some light reading material available.” The watchdog sent a team of six volunteers on “enter and view” vis- its, where they met with the head of outpatients and the deputy chief nurse and spoke to 73 patients at both hospitals.


downsmail.co.uk Megan’s charity ball


A BARMING family is arranging a fund-raising ball for research into Crohn’s disease. Megan Hyndman (25), whowas diagnosed with the condition at 18,


hopes the social eventwill help find a cure for the life-long condition. Her parents Vivienne and


Dean, fromBarming Heath, and her friend Gabrielle Collins, pictured with Megan, are helping to arrange the event at Oakwood House in Maidstone. Last Christmas, Megan,


whoworks inWateringbury, was inMaidstone Hospital recovering froman operation to remove a metre of her small intestine. Her treatment prompted her to start raising money for the Crohn’s and Colitis UK charity, with boot fairs and a cake competition. She also took part in a 7k run at Knole House in August, raising more than £1,000. The ball, on Saturday, March 11, will include a live band, three-course


meal and a glass of wine aswell as a raffle and an auction. Tickets are £50 fromviviennehyndman@aol.com, 01622 721016, or www.chronscharityball.co.uk.


Drugs charge teen is in court


ATEENAGERfrom Maidstone has been given a community service order for assault and intent to supply cannabis in Tonbridge. Mike Divuilu, from Church Street, appeared at Mid Kent Magistrates’


Court on December 26.Headmitted possessing cannabis with intent to sup- ply and assaulting a man.Hewas ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work and to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.


Caitlin is TV voice of a hospice


ASCHOOLGIRLfrom Kingswood is fronting a new TV campaign to raise awareness of Demelza chil- dren’s hospice. Caitlin Goodsell (11) recites a


poem to accompany a commercial going out in the Meridian and Lon- don regions. The youngster,whoattends Corn-


wallis School, was born with so many holes in her heart that doctors were amazed she survived. But de- spite after a series of illnesses and operations, she is determined to lead a normal life. After being born twoweeks early,


her concerned GP sent her to Maid- stone Hospital. From there, shewas rushed to the


Royal Brompton and Harefield Hos- pital in London. Mum Ingrid said: “It transpired


her heartwas full of holes.We could have lost her at any point.” WhenCaitlin (pictured)was a year


old and being fed through a gastric tube, a visiting nurse suggested the family could borrow a feed machine from the Demelza hospice in Sitting- bourne, to save Ingrid and husband Barry having to get up every three hours during the night to feed their daughter manually. Ingrid said: “It was life-changing


16 Maidstone East February 2017


for us. As well as Caitlin, we had Sam, a lively toddler and we were both trying to hold down our jobs. We thought Demelzawas for end of life care.We never en- visaged we would need their help.” Over the next four


years, Caitlin under- went six major heart operation. Then she suffered a stroke and


lost her speech. Ingrid recalled: “The doctors said: ‘Just keep talking to her’ – and even-


tually her speech returned.” Today, Caitlin has reduced mobil-


ity in her right arm and leg but her condition is stable. She has an elec- tric wheelchair to help her in school and a normal one for days out. She enjoys riding and swimming,


aswell as drama and singing. Ingrid said: “Caitlin’s condition


and medication is a worry to people outside close family, so Demelza of- fers us the equivalent of a ‘sleepover’ with her friends. She likes to use the hydrotherapy pool.” Caitlin’s commercial has been


made thanks to Swale Heating who donated £26,000 worth of its own air-time to the charity. The firm has given nine of its top


TV advertising slots a month to Demelza. The 30-second advert pro- motes the charity’s work and prompts viewers to text to do- nate.Following the recording at the Sunlight Centre, Gillingham, Caitlin said: “It was brilliant to be asked to be the voice for Demelza, even though I was nervous. I felt like I was speaking for all the other chil- dren who use Demelza.”


Leeds litter-pickers back on duty


A TEAM of litter-pickers scoured the length of Leeds village to collect a mass of rubbish. The 14-strong squad filled 32


large sacks of mess –most of which has been tossed fromvehicles driv- ing through the community - on Sat- urday, January 21. Starting near the gates of Leeds


Castle, the teams gathered rubbish – which also included a tyre and car parts – as far as the Langley end of Burberry Lane. Cllr Fort, who lives in the centre of the village, said: “To get


14 people to give up their time on a Saturday to pick up rubbish left be- hind by thoughtless people shows a great community spirit. However, I


Litter pickers on duty in Leeds were, left to right, PeterMar- tin, Alastair Pol- lock and borough councillor Gill Fort


drove through the village the next day and saw more rubbish had been chucked out of carwindows overnight, which is irritating.”


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