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downsmail.co.uk Horse is rescued frompool


THIS is themoment when a stricken horse was rescued froma swimming pool in a garden in Maidstone.


RSPCA officers and firefighters


launched a life-saving rescue of the distressedmare on December 31, after a resident spotted the an- imal in the swimming pool. Rescuers were worried the


horse might have stumbled into the pool overnight and left in freezing conditionswas unable to scramble out. RSPCA inspector Rosie Russon


and animal collection officer BrianMilligan rushed to the scene at Stockett Lane to help the fright- ened animal. Inspector Russon said: “The


caller wasn’t sure how long the horse had been there and feared shemay have been there all night. “Shewas clearly very cold. The


waterwas only about 1mdeep, so although it came only up to her stomach, she wasn’t able to get out of the pool on her own, and I


Proms ‘back’


PROMS in the Park will return to the county town in 2019. Months after the event was


scrapped by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), a developer has stepped inwith funding. The building company behind


the redevelopment of the 500- homeSpringfield Park site near Whatman Park will stump up the cash.Attendances fell in 2018 after the council decided to charge an admission fee.The councildecided thatpriceswouldhave to rise from £7 to £20 tomake it break even, and supportwould drop further. According to a report, the fund-


ingmay helpto subsidise the event for the five years, but paid-for tick- etingwill remain in place.


Themare is rescued fromthe pool by fire crewmembers and the RSPCA


was concerned about her getting hypothermia. “The caller said the horse had


been trying to get out of the pool but kept slipping on the bottom. “We called Kent Fire and Res-


cue Service fand they sent a crew who helped us towinch her out of the pool.” Themare, thought to be around


four years old,wasmicrochipped, but the chipwas not registered.


Staff have nicknamed her Ellie,


after the Paralympic swimming champion Ellie Simmonds. Inspector Russon added: “We


believe Ellie had been straying and fell into the pool in the dark. “She has someminor injuries to


her legs where she fell through the pool lining and hit the bottom, but other than that, she has been very lucky. “She has now been taken into


care by one of our private board- ing establishments,where she can bemonitored and assessed. “If no one comes forward to


claim her then we’ll start the process of finding her a suitable home.” Anyone who believes they


know where Ellie has come from can get in touch by calling 0300 123 8018 and leaving a message for Inspector Russon.


Bringing IT to schools in Africa


A CHARITY aims to distribute 40,000 computers across Tanzania in a pilot project designed to pro- vide employment and education. OnDecember 12,Digital Pipeline


prepared two containers, loaded with IT equipment, for delivery to schools in the Eastern African country. It was the first in a series of deliveries to some 1,000 schools across Tanzania. If the scheme proves successful,


seven more African nations are in line to accept refurbished IT tools. CEO of Digital Pipeline, of Ayles-


ford, BevilWilliams (pictured right) said: “Bringing computer technol- ogy to developing economies is key


to driving educational, healthcare and commercial achievement.Har- nessing digital technology is key to the future prosperity of these na- tions and their young people.” The Priory Park-based company


has a team of IT specialists, logis- tics and support staff, and has shipped around 200,000 comput- ers to economically-deprived com- munities around the world. Digital Pipeline is nowappealing


for non-seaworthy shipping con- tainers, which can be converted into solar-powered classrooms, li- braries and health centres to bring facilities to remote regions of Africa.


Inspectors criticise stretched care firm


A GOVERNMENT watchdog has criticised a Maidstone care provider for taking on newclients when it was unable to meet the needs of existing customers. MearsCareLtd(Maidstone)was


said to have insufficient staff to support the 173pensioners andde- mentia sufferers on its books. And yet, said the Care Quality


Commission (CQC), the company continued to chase newbusiness. In a report, the watchdog’s in- spectors said the shortage of staff


18 Maidstone February 2019


meant “people received support which was later than their pre- ferred time or, sometimes, did not receive support at all”. They saidmanagement “contin-


ued to take on additional clients even though people were com- plaining that there were not enough staff to meet the needs of those already using the service”. Mears Care Ltd (Maidstone),


which runs an in-home care busi- ness from its base in Hermitage Lane, came under scrutiny when


inspectors carried out an an- nounced two-day visit inOctober. Their report flagged up a series


of concerns. In particular, it said: “People did


not always receive theirmedicines in a safe way. Audits on people’s medical records were not being completed, and the registered manager was not following up where errorswere identified.” TheCQCdid recognise that staff


were proactive inmaking referrals to health professionals to ensure


people received “joined-up care”. Andit foundclients felt that staff


“treated them in a compassionate manner, andweremindful of their dignity”. But inspectors concludedthat, in


terms of providing a safe, effective, caring and responsive service, the company “requires improve- ment”. It added that the servicewas not


well led, branding it “inadequate”. MearsCare Ltd (Maidstone)was not available for comment.


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