downsmail.co.uk


Virtual doctor service praised


A TEAM of virtual doctors in Kings Hill has been praised for the service it provides to patients. Independent health regulator,


the CareQuality Commission, vis- ited the online service at its offices in Kings Hill Avenue, where Doc Reports Ltd provides remote help to patients across the country suf- fering certainminor conditions. The i-GP Virtual Doctor site


dealswith 25 conditions, including contraception, sore throat, chlamy- dia, dental abscess, sinusitis and urinary tract infections, 24 hours a day, seven days aweek. The service, run by 12 doctors,


does not treat patients under 18, or prescribe pain relief, controlled drugs, or high-riskmedicines. DrRosie Benneyworth, fromthe


CQC, said there were systems in place tomanage risk and abuse. Her report said staff treated pa-


tients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. Risk assess- mentsweremade andconsultation


information appropriately shared with a patient’s ownGP. Offering the service a good


grade, with outstanding leader- ship, the report commended the training of doctors and security, which included GPs using an en- crypted password secure laptop to log into the operating system. Therewere processes tomanage


any emerging medical issues dur- ing a consultation and formanag- ing test results and referrals. Inanemergency, thepatient’s lo-


cation was known, so emergency services could be called. The report noted: “GPs provid-


ing the servicewere aware of both the strengths (speed, convenience, choice of time) and the limitations (inability to perform physical ex- amination) ofworking remotely. “Theyworked carefully tomax-


imise benefits and minimise risks for patients. If a patient needed ex- amination, they were directed to an appropriate agency.”


News Cricket club honours


THE Mote Cricket Club hon- oured two outstanding hon- orary


secretaries when


framed photographs of John Gulland andMalcolmBassett were unveiled next to the club honours board in the pavilion. Blair Gulland (pictured),


chairman of the Maidstone solicitors’ firm, unveiled the photo of his late father, who held the office from 1958 to 1973. Blair said he was pleased the long association with the club would continue nowthatGullandsweremain sponsors for five years. Club chairman Glen Aukett


unveiled the photo of Mal- colmBassett,who has just re- tired after 31 years. He also praised lunch guests


who includedMalcolmBristow (past groundsman and tal- ented batsman), Bill Hickling (hon treasurer for seven vital years), JohnBooth(fixture sec- retary for 22 years) and Nick Aldrich (who has built up colts membership to over 130).


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