News


Appeal to keep travellers away


LEYBOURNE councillors say the area is becoming a “mecca” on so- cial media for travellers looking for somewhere to stop. The latest invasion on public


open space at Lillieburn left the area covered in excrement, tree cut- tings, and rubbish, andwas deeply rutted as the travellers struggled to leave in pouring rain hours before an eviction notice could be served. The incursion, onApril 25, came


after three traveller families pulled onto public open space days before in Larkfield. Parish council chairmanBobUlph


made endeavours to re-seat protec- tive boulders that had beenmoved, presumably by the travellers.How- ever, they simply moved them again and set up camp. CllrUlph said: “We contacted the


police asking that the travellers be escorted out of Larkfield and the area once we knew they were on the move, but this did not happen and so they came here, again.” Residents in Leybourne have faced half a dozen encampments


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on the same area in the last five years and now want Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council (TMBC), to consider more effective meas- ures to keep travellers away. CllrUlph said: “The parish coun-


cil has spent a small fortune fenc- ing areas, creating bunds and placing boulders in strategic loca- tions to keep travellers off. We would like to be able to spend that money on other things.“ Adrian Stanfield, director of cen-


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tral services andmonitoring officer for TMBC, said: “Last year, we agreed with the parish councils that where they request our assis- tance on land owned by them, we would also exercise our powers rather than expecting the parishes to take their own eviction action. “The land subject to themost re-


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cent incursion in Leybourne had physical protection measures in place in the form of boulders, which were originally put in place by the parish council. Work to re- instate the boulders has now been completed.”


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Mortality rate THE mortality rate in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals is causing concerns, and care plan- ning and capacity issues are being investigated. However, the GP-led NHS West


Kent CCG heard there had been a month-by-month improvement in the summer. The introduction of seven-day working had improved the situation forweekend deaths. A new mortality review system introduces “a duty of candour to relatives”. Investigation into deaths is now mandated for the hospital trust.


Care home GPs ALL GP practices in Maidstone and West Kent will be eligible to deliver wider services for residents in care homes and the CCG has approved enhanced payments to cover costs. The services will include: a geri-


atric assessment on admission; a weekly GP “home round”; and en- hanced reviews after hospital at- tendance or admission.


Football league ‘in dire straits’, claims secretary


THE oldest local football league in the country faces a bleak future – despite an attempt to encourage more teams by removing its fees. TheMaidstone & District League


should be planning to celebrate its 125th anniversary this year, but in- stead it is struggling to get enough teams to keep going for next year. Despite having six leagues as re-


cently as 10 years ago, the 2017-18 season has beenplayedoutwith just one division of eight teams. The league committee decided to


ditch joining fees to the league, whichwould save clubs about £300 next season, but although there has been some interest, organisers have been dealt a further blow. “We’ve had a couple of clubs say


CCG now good THE annual NHS assessment per- formance now rates the GP-led NHS West Kent Clinical Commis- sioning Group as good. Previously it was assessed as “needs improv- ing”.


they might be interested in putting in a team,” saidreferees andfixtures secretary Mick Brooks, right. “But then two of the current sides have said they intend leaving the league. “We are still trying to get new


clubs to come in and we will help whereverwe can.” The league was founded in 1893,


AWARNING has been given that patients of localGPpractices which do not join the newGPcluster sys- temmaynot receive the same range of services as those who do. It comes from Dr BobBowes, long- standing chairman of the budget- holding GP-led NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). So far 75% of about 60 practices in Maidstone and West Kent are in- volved in cluster discussions. The plan is for seven clusters covering central Maidstone (7 practices), East Maidstone (11),Weald (15), Malling


GPS are unlikely to prescribe medicines which can be bought from pharmacies, supermarkets and other retailers. Savings will be redirected to other NHS serv- ices.The GP-led budget-holding West Kent CCG has approved the principle of creating a restricted list of over-the-counter medicines that should not be routinely prescribed. The cost of these medicines is esti- mated at more than £2m per year. Patients will also be encouraged to self care for minor ailments and common conditions and seek ad- vice from pharmacists, saving


but the eight-team league this year has struggled to be competitive. Sport participation in general is a


FA ‘committed to


will offer extended hours (including some weekend work), wider serv- ices, teams of nurses and allied health professionals, co-ordinated care and back office and estate effi-


growth of game’ THE Kent FA’s Senior Football De- velopmentOfficer Lee Suter is hop- ing the league can survive. “The Kent FAis committed to the


Prescriptions under review Birth concerns WEST Kent CCG says it has iden- tified an increase in the number of serious incidents reported by Maid- stone and Tunbridge Wells hospi- tals’ maternity department. The department is now being in-


big issue, but Mr Brooks believes more has to be done. “The FAshouldbe looking to help


solve issues like this,” he said. “I don’t think there is enough focus on men’s 11-a-side footbal. “The Kent FA has helped us out


and put some suggestions forward, and there is a £1,000 grant for any newclubswho start up. “Money is always an issue – our


clubs tellus that collecting subs from players can be like getting bloodout of a stone.We are in dire straits.”


about 20% of GP time. These ail- ments include diarrhoea, constipa- tion, athlete’s foot, fever, cold sores, teething, nappy rash, mouth ulcers, haemorrhoids, oral and vaginal thrush, head lice, insect bites and stings, conjunctivitis, contact der- matitis, sore throat, , indigestion and heartburn, ear wax, warts and verrucaes, soft tissue injury, sca- bies, ring worm, mild acne, minor burns and scalds. In a survey 85% of people receiving such free pre- scriptions said they would buy them from a pharmacy if their GP asked them to.


growth and retention of all aspects of the game,” he said. “The adult 11v11gamehasbeenexperiencing a number of challenges andwe are committed to those affected. “With the support of The FA and


Football Foundation, we have in- vested over £10,000 in creating newadult 11v11 teams this season while supporting existing teams. “In April, we launched the FA’s


Retain the Game fund which male teams of under-17s-and-upwards will be able to apply for financial support.Wehope the investment in newand existing teamswill provide the numbers needed to keep leagues such as the Maidstone & District Football Leagues competi- tive and offering 11v11 football.”


THE OLD Bridge Music Club has its nextmeeting on Friday,May 25 atAylesford community centre. The group held itsAGMonMay


vestigated in depth. In June, the hospital trust re- ported an increase in Caesarean section births and 3rd/4th degree tear rates. TheCCGsays “further assurance


11, and new members and friends are always welcome to enjoy good company andmusic. For more details contact Betty Crouch on 01622 754564.


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is required in a number of areas, in- cluding safety and information governance”. The Care Quality Commission is also investigating.


RAFFLE and tombola prizes are being sought ahead of a popular fundraising event inAylesford. The Brassey Bazaar is gearing up


for a Summer Special on Saturday, June 2, and is seeking prizes for the two contests.


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GP cluster planwarningBlaze on farm


(6) plus Tonbridge, TunbridgeWells and Sevenoaks. The CCG plans to support prac-


tices to ‘co-operate, collaborate and combine’ to integrate out-of- hospital care and deliver services at scale. Practice mergers could also be supported. The aim is that practices will maintain their identities and re- lationships with their patients. Clusters, with more GPs available,


Health |News downsmail.co.uk


ciencies. The CCG will also prioritise and consider investment in new prem- ises where there is a need. The CCG says nothing has been defined yet on seven-day 8am-8pm working for practices and there is plenty of scope for collaboration in delivering extended hours. The focus is on consistency for patients and the key area is Saturday morn- ing access. Seven-day service is seen as a ‘natural direction of travel’ but the bestway to deliver for local peo- ple and professionals has still to be decided.


FIREFIGHTERS had to use breath- ing apparatus when they tackled a blaze at a farmin EastMalling. Kent Fire and Rescue Service


were called toWateringbury Road, East Malling, at about 2.30pm on Thursday,March 22. It took themaround two hours to


put out the fire in an agricultural building. No-one was injured in the blaze


and the cause has not been re- vealed.


Musicmeeting


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26 Malling May 2018


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