News | Health


WESTKentCCGis continuing its re- viewof IVF treatments, nowcosting about £806,600 a year, including a limit on the number of cycles. But the policy faces challenges:


downsmail.co.uk IVF under review Action on cancer targets


complaints; individual funding re- quests; legal challenges;media cov- erage;mental health issues; and GP support.


Maternity care


A“SIGNIFICANT increase” in seri- ous incidents in maternity services at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals has been reported and the trust is investigating.


Bed-blocking


DELAYED transfers of care in local hospitals are decreasing, now that work byKCCis complementing sig- nificant efforts by the West Kent CCG.


Mortality rates


MORTALITY rates at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals are “coming back in line” after a period of closemonitoring.


Nursing interest


ANINCREASEinstudent interest to become GP practice nurses has meant 20 new placements in West Kent area.


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ARENEWEDdrive tomeet locally allNHSEnglandcancer care targets is being made by the GP-led budget-holdingWestKentClinical CommissioningGroup (CCG). A report before the CCG shows


many targets have beenmissedover four years, including the two-week wait from cancer referral to a spe- cialist appointment and the 62-day wait fromthis referral to treatment. The CCG says key issues are pa-


tients presenting late to GPs with symptoms andGPs not always iden- tifying suspicious symptoms. “Once a patient has been referred


theywant to be toldthat it is not can- cer as soon as possible or have treat-


Budget cuts FURTHER urgent changes are to be made by the budget-holding West Kent CCG which has identified growing overspends. Reasons for excess costs include:


increased use of the independent sector (£3m); critical care (£1m); high-cost drugs activity; commer- cial beds needed for the urgent care pathway;mental health placements in the independent sector (.7m). The CCG is working with the


local hospital trust on schemes that could lead to a £4msaving.


ment planned in a timelymanner.” Themost significant factor identi-


fied forWest Kent is that themajor- ity of cancer services areprovidedat MaidstoneHospital but “capacity is compromised by referrals fromout- sideWest Kent.” Failure to achieve the 62-day tar-


get “is largely due to diagnostic ca- pacity, particularly radiology and endoscopy” and a staff shortfall. TheCCGsays it has taken various


steps to solve problems, including appointing aMacmillan GP to sup- port GP practices; producing a leaflets for GPs to give to patients advising on urgency; approving a recovery plan for the local hospital


G4S concern CONCERNS grow about shortcomings in the quality of service in non-emergency pa- tient transport provided by G4S, reported to be failing to complete one in five journeys. The West Kent CCG says it


hopes many operational diffi- culties are being addressed, in- cluding adequate responses to patient complaints. A contract performance notice has been issued.


trust; andGP education events. Further actions planned include:


setting up a Cancer Alliance work- shop between local and South Lon- don providers; a new test for colorectal patients to reduce the need for colonoscopy; a “straight to test” pathway for gastrointestinal patients; one-stop clinics for new lung referrals; phoned follow-ups for breast cancer patients; reminder system for repeat blood tests for prostatepatients; a replacement can- cer information system; revised sus- pected cancer referral guidance. The local hospital trust has made


a successful bid for £100,000 to help it achieve targets.


Data online


PERSONAL health information for about 7,400 of the more vulnerable Maidstone andWestKentpatients is now available securely online to health professionals under the care planmanagement system, nowsup- ported bymostGP practices. The aim is to provide a system


linked to all relevant professionals and accessible to patients and their carers to improve immediacy andef- fectiveness of care. It is expected to grow strongly in the next few years to cover awide range of patients.


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Maidstone November 2017


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