News


Tax inspector named as a new rural ‘team vicar’


A FORMER tax inspector has been chosen to serve as the new Team Vicar of the Pilgrims Way parishes. Rev Paul Kite, who has served as


a deacon on the Isle of Sheppey since being ordained, takes on the role at the end of September. He will be vicar of Boxley, Detling, Grove Green, Holling- bourne, Hucking and Thurnham. For these villages, it brings to a


close a period without a vicar spanning, in some cases, three years. Rev Kite will live at Holling- bourne vicarage with his wife Karen and family. Also joining the North Downs


team will be Church Army Officer Captain Graham Bibby. A Church Army officer for more


than 20 years, he will become the first Team Missioner for the area, serving Grove Green, where he will live, and the new develop- ments along the Sutton Road. He has three grown-up children


and likes cats and listens to pro- gressive rock music.


cancer capacity THERE are continuing concerns about the quality of local cancer care, especially first-year survival rates.


Meetings are being held between


the budget-holding GP-led NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the local hospi- tal trust.


Although early diagnosis is bet-


ter than most, the CCG says the trust needs to increase capacity for diagnostics and treatments. The CCG is non-compliant for 31-day and 62-day GP referral stan- dards and after an improved De- cember, declined in January, due to local challenges in the trust with breast cancer breaches and staffing shortages. Improved figures are expected for the spring.


Online plans MORE than 7,200 patient personal care plans in West Kent are now available online to help inform health professionals and guide them to fast and appropriate treat- ments.


Initially this service covers pa-


tients most likely to be in need, but as it expands more patients will be able to authorise inclusion.


16 Maidstone East July 2017


Canon Jeremy Corbyn (left), Capt Graham Bibby and Rev Paul Kite


the parish on September 25 at 7pm. Last year, Downs Mail reported


Canon John Corbyn said while


there are still some transitional arrangements to be settled at Thurnham, he was extremely pleased that his team is finally complete. He said: “We are delighted to


welcome two new staff members, who complete our team, especially as some posts have been vacant for two and, in some cases, three years.” A joint service will be held at Boxley Church to welcome both to


how several rural villages were to be enveloped into new so-called “super benefices”. This would share the vicar over


a wider area as the church at- tempts to deploy its ministers as ef- fectively as possible. One reason for the reorganiza-


tionwas the retirement of Holling- bourne’s Rev Nigel Fry in 2015. As a result, the super benefice


will now incorporate Holling- bourne, Hucking, Boxley, Thurn- ham, Detling, Leeds, Broomfield, Kingswood, Langley and Otham.


downsmail.co.uk School calling


for governors THERE is a chance to volunteer as a school governor at the Parkway Primary School in Maidstone. Head Karen Dhanecha says:


“This is an excellent opportunity to become more involved in the school community, develop addi- tional skills, a better understanding of the education system and trans- fer your abilities into assisting the development of a diverse and vi- brant school.” The school is looking particularly


for those with expertise in social care, communication and market- ing. However, the school is equally glad to hear from anyone who feels they would like to get involved. Call 01622 753651 for details.


Texter jailed


A MAIDSTONE man who sent in- decent texts to a woman has been jailed. Mark Stephen Sanders admitted causing harassment and sending messages of an indecent or grossly offensive nature to the woman be- tween June 2 and 5, causing her to fear violence. He was sentenced on June 14 at


Mid Kent Magistrates’ Court to 120 days in prison and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 victim sur- charge.


Concerns over Stroke units set to merge


STROKE units in four of Kent’s seven acute hospitals seem set to close as they are merged into larger, better staffed and equipped units at the other three. This appears the most likely out-


come of NHS Kent and Medway Stroke Review started more than two years ago. Minimum stroke activity for a


quality unit is seen as not less than 5,000 cases a year and only Ashford and Medway hospitals in Kent hit that figure in 2015/16.


No decisions have yet been an-


nounced on the location of future units but a key consideration is the need for emergency investigations and treatments. The aim will be to try to ensure


patients are seen at great speed. The first hour (including ambu- lance time) is seen by many as very significant and specialists say those needing anti-clot medication should get it within two hours. Selecting the right locations for the population of Kent will there-


fore be a key consideration. One unit will serve east Kent, another north/west Kent and the third has still to be finalised. No announcement has yet been


made about the future of the stroke unit in Maidstone Hospital. Its central location 30 minutes


from both Medway and Tunbridge Wells could be a key factor in its survival. TheNHSsays there will be a full


public consultation before deci- sions are taken.


Good practice improves after inspection


AN ALLINGTONGP practice has been graded “good” by healthwatchdog the Care Quality Commission in its latest report. Allington Park Surgery, run by Dr Robert Mennie and


based in Newbury Avenue, received an overall rating of good following a comprehensive inspection in November last year. Itwas rated as good for providing effective, caring, responsive andwell-led services, butwas asked to make improvements to ensure that patientswere kept safe. Aftermaking a return visit in April, the commission


recently confirmed that the practice had improved its systems and processes to address this issue. The system formonitoring the collection of prescriptions had been improved andwasworking effectively and the use of IT systems in the practicewas continually being reviewed and improved.


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