downsmail.co.uk
Imaging centre earns praise fromregulator
AHEALTHwatchdoghasheaped praise on a KingsHill clinic after launching a routine root and branch inspection of its services. Regulator, the Care Quality
Commission (CQC), rated Kent Medical Imaging (KMI) as pro- viding a “good” service overall, and branded its level of caring “outstanding”. The company, which provides
ultrasound screening assessment examinations for self-referring and private patients, is a small op- eration that was established in 1999 and employs half a dozen staff on a full and part-time basis. TheCQC’s deputy chief inspec-
tor of hospitals, Nigel Acheson, said his team found the service had “high levels of patient satis- faction”. “Patients were truly respected
and valued as individuals and were empowered as partners in their care,” he said.
“There was a strong, visible
person-centred culture. Staffwere highly motivated and inspired to offer care that promoted people’s dignity and privacy.
“Staff took time to ensure pa-
tients were given sufficient infor- mation to be able to make decisions about their care, and provided emotional support to thosewho needed it.” The CQC ruled that, of the five
areas it uses to benchmark stan- dards – safety, effectiveness, care, leadership and responsiveness – all were either good or outstand- ing. Fiona Pocock who, along with
Jane West (both pictured), runs the clinic inChurchill Square, said shewas both “pleased and disap- pointed” by the latest inspection. “We’re a small company and
many of the areas the CQC as- sesses do not apply to us,” she said. “As a result,wewill never be rated ‘outstanding’
overall.How- ever, we’re extremely pleased with the latest report, which re- flects all the hard work the team has put in.”
News Lighter nights
DITTON Parish Council has ap- plied to planners for permission to extend the hours the community centre’s floodlights operate. They currently switch off at 9pm
but parish clerk, Nicola Green- away, said themulti-use games fa- cilities offKilnbarn recreation area haveprovedsopopular, theparish is keen to see the time extended to 10pm.
Gun amnesty
KENT Police extended their firearms amnesty by twodays after taking in 25 shotguns, four re- volvers, one pistol and about 2,000 rounds of live ammunition. The amnesty, which allowed
people to hand in weapons with- out prosecution, ran between Jan- uary 21 and February 3.
Ollie’swalk
A10-YEAR-OLD boywas due to tackle a 15km walk for charity, as DownsMailwent to press. Ollie Court was planning a cir-
cular trek taking in Allington and East FarleighwithmumHelen and dad Ben, to raise £100 forAge UK Maidstone.
Malling February 2019
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