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Pharmacy first formild illness


MEDICAL professionals are en- couraging people to stay away from GPs and hospitals this win- ter by using their local pharmacist at the first sign of illness. Pharmacists can give free help


and advice on many minor ill- nesses, such as colds or fever, which can be safely treated at home without the need to see a doctor. In west Kent, many pharmacies


are part of the “common ailments scheme", which can hand out free medication for certain illnesses to people who do not usually pay for their prescriptions. Dr Bob Bowes, a GP from Tun-


bridge Wells and clinical chair of NHS West Kent Clinical Commis- sioningGroup, said: “Apharmacist will be happy to talk to you about a cough or a cold and can sell a range ofmedicationwithout the need for a prescription. “It is important to keep a supply


of essential medications at home and you can speak to your local pharmacist about that aswell.” If you become ill and are uncer-


tain of what to do, phone the 24- hour non-emergency helplineNHS 111, unless it is a 999 emergency. Calls are free fromlandlines ormo- biles. Details of your nearest pharmacy


are on the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk.


THE fine for dropping litter inMaid- stone is to rise to £90 this April. Borough councillors agreed the


increase, from £80 to £90, at a meeting in the town before Christ- mas. Those receiving a fixed penalty


notice will have 14 days to pay, after which the fine will rise to £120. The council says the increase is in


line with the recent government recommendation to raise fines to a maximumof £150. Cllr John Barned, chairman of the


council’s communities, housing and environment committee, which ap- proved the increase, said: “Maid- stone Borough Council


is Minor injury units


Trained nurses at minor injury units (MIUs) can assess and treat cuts, sprains, minor burns, minor dislocations of the fingers and toes, minor eye injuries and re- move foreign bodies from, for ex- ample, ears and noses.


Dentists


For emergency dental care, con- tact your own dentist first. At evenings, weekends and bank hol- idays, call DentaLine on 01634 890300.


Mental health support


Free confidential emotional advice and guidance is available 24 hours a day, seven days aweek, fromthe MentalHealthMatters helpline on 0800 107 0160. The Samaritans are also there to listen at any time of day or night and can be reached by dialling 116 123.


Town gets tough on litter louts


committed to delivering a clean and safe environment for residents and visitors. Littering can have a huge impact on the appearance of our town and villages. It is impor- tant we continue to tackle littering and other environmental crime.” The committee also supported a


tougher approach to littering from cars. A new on-street enforcement team, due to start in April, will be able to issue fixed penalty notices to the registered keepers of vehicles fromwhich the litter came. Members also agreed to continue


supporting education and engage- ment initiatives to reduce littering, including national clean-up days and litter picking volunteers.


Machete seized in police op


AN 18-INCH machete, together with heroin, crack cocaine and £200 in cash, was seized from a 21-year-old man driving throughMaidstone in an operation by Kent Police against criminals in the area linked to Lon- don gangs. A total of 20 arrests were made during the Kent and Essex Serious


Crime Directorate’s week-long operation, with thousands of pounds worth of drugs seized, alongwith a number of dangerousweapons. Operation Raptor was set up to disrupt and target offenders linked to


criminal networks in the capital,who sometimes attempt to sell and dis- tribute classA drugs in Kent, including heroin and crack cocaine.


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