All change at GP practice
WEST Malling GP Practice has set out the changes it has planned over the next two months.
The practice currently runs surgeries at West Malling, Leybourne and Kings Hill.
Although facilities will remain open at all three locations, the changes will reduce services at West Malling and relocate them to Kings Hill. Trudy Dean, chairman of West Malling Parish Council said: “It is a very sad day indeed to see the GP practice reduce High Street services.
“NHS funding cuts, a lack of GPs nationally, and a chaotic system of planning for future health needs in areas of rapid housing growth have all created a perfect storm. “The changes will make life more difficult for local people and their families, especially those who have multiple health problems. “The Parish Council hopes to be able to offer help to the practice to enable more clinics to be held locally, and to promote improved bus services to Kings Hill where surgery parking is already difficult.”
Changes include:
• The existing Kings Hill surgery is being refurbished at first floor level to be used as consulting rooms and for support staff. The main Milverton House West Malling surgery, now privately owned, will close and all its services transfer to The Hollies annexe building.
• There will be no receptionist facility, patients will have to check- in on the screen supplied.
• The practice says that wherever possible it will try to direct patients to other surgeries so that the least able can be given priority at the Hollies.
• Prescriptions can be sent as now electronically direct to the chosen chemist for collection, but cannot be collected from The Hollies.
• Appointment times will be the same at the Hollies as now, but there will be only two consulting rooms, one for a GP and one for a health care assistant who will be available daily for blood pressure and blood tests. All appointments will now need to be made by telephone, on line or in person at the Leybourne or Kings Hill surgeries.
• Leybourne Village Surgery will continue to operate as now. Parking charges scrapped
MAIDSTONE Borough Council scrapped parking charges in the Allington Park and Ride Car Park as we went to press on July 1. Parking was expected to be free and the bus service in to Maidstone town centre would also be free to pensioners and everyone with a concession bus pass. Ticket prices for all others are £3.20 all day return available before 9am. And from 9am, the charge is £2 return or £2.50 for a group of up to five people including two adults. Details are available on MBC website.
New bus timetable
THE 58 bus will start on its new timetable on July 15. It will travel its normal route, but will terminate at Maidstone Hospital. Passengers wanting to travel to central Maidstone can transfer to other scheduled services at Wealden Hall, at Preston Hall (Homebase) for London Road routes, or at the hospital for services running along the Tonbridge Road.
Age Concern Centre
WEST Malling Parish Council and KCC are discussing ways to ensure the Age Concern Centre in Norman Road can continue to be used for services for elderly people.
Malling Age Concern closed its doors to clients at the end of May when the charity became insolvent. The parish council has asked KCC if it will lease or sell the site to the council. Local branches of Age UK were discussing a merger with Age Concern West Malling before its financial problems, and may be interested in continuing to deliver services from the site. Parish council chairman Trudy Dean said: “The money to build the centre was originally raised by Malling Rotary who organised fund raising events for a centre for services for the elderly. “The parish council would like to continue that aim, perhaps in partnership with other local voluntary organisations. “We would like to see more clients coming from the local area, and a greater variety of activities on offer. “We also had discussions with the GP practice to see if they were interested in relocating there, but it appears they are not. “Much will depend on the condition of the building, and the price KCC will charge for the lease or sale of the site.”
Bid for new Leybourne bus
NEW buses introduced on the 58 route are smaller than those traditionally used for the service. Councillors queried whether these new vehicles could now access Leybourne Chase where larger buses have been unable to negotiate the estate roads. Norman Kemp, owner of operator Nu Venture, said he had identified a possible turning area, but a new height restriction barrier and the road humps on the approach would prevent the service operating there. Officers were asked to investigate whether developers’ money, originally set aside to provide a bus service to West Malling Station, could also be used to replace the humps with a bus friendly design.
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