Bed-Blocking Crisis As Care Targets Missed
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Four editions delivered to over 88,000 homes every month downsmail.co.uk MaidstoneMaidstone EastEast EditionEdition Maidstone & Malling’s No. 1 newspaper FREE Maidstone Town | Maidstone East | Maidstone South | Malling November 2015 No. 223 News Bed-blocking crisis County departure KCC is planning to remove its services from Maidstone Gate- way in King Street to save as care targets missed money. 4 BED-blocking in local hospitals has reached an “unprecedented level”, with Donations suffer KCC flouting care transfer targets by more than nine times. CHARITIES are missing out due In July 2015 there were 1,529 in- and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. gent Care Network – has been inef- to a loss of business car stances – more than double the total The trust board was told that un- fective.” parks to housing. 6 a year earlier – where patients were less the issues were resolved the hos- During July in the Maidstone and stuck in beds in West Kent hospitals pitals would struggle to cope with Tunbridge Wells hospitals there (covering Maidstone, Tonbridge, demand, even when a new ward were 250 patients waiting for trans- Transport closure Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells) opens at Tunbridge Wells Hospital. fer. The situation improved slightly THE park and ride facility at Sit- O without a suitable place of transfer. The problem is compromising in August, but there were still care tingbourne Road will 22 A Of these, 687 were due to a lack of standard four-hour A&E waiting transfer delays for 181 inpatients close next year. p social care capacity – massively time targets, as well as care for pa- (7.1%) in the two hospitals. This ac- n breaching the target of 77 – leading tients undergoing booked opera- counted for 1,400 lost bed days. to a threat from NHS bosses to sub- tions. Extra beds and temporary staff After a meeting of the trust, KCC Longer lifespans mit invoices to social services and have been deployed. and Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge RESIDENTS of villages in the KCC. A report to the Maidstone and Wells and local government secre- North Downs lead local “The lack of engagement from Tunbridge Wells Trust board said: tary, the trust backed down on its life expectancy rates. 32 senior officials within social services “The local committee established to threat to invoice the county is regrettable,” said the Maidstone manage emergency care – the Ur- council. 18 Money worries FINANCIAL issues dominated en- New challenge quiries to Maidstone Cit- Call to protect cherry trees izens Advice Bureau. 40 AUTUMN leaves and their to M20 J8 snub Comment 42-4346-47 glorious red tinge create a THE Gallagher group is to challenge charm that makes this a Government inspector’s decision Obituaries 44 season the most special for to refuse it permission for a ware- many. house development close to M20 Parish Councils 58-59 But residents in Salisbury Junction 8. Road, Maidstone – The company says Maidstone A ONE-WAY system was wanted including Pat Walsh, Council’s opposition to its Waterside in Bredhurst; whippet racers pictured – are berating the Park proposal relied too heavily on were leaving rubbish in Detling; loss of some autumn colour its existing local plan, which is now horse manure was being left on after two of their beloved irrelevant, and on evidence by Cllr paths in Downswood; a new cherry trees were cut down Tony Harwood, labelled “a self-con- neighbourhood plan was desired by KCC. fessed enthusiastic amateur” by Gal- in Harrietsham; football parking They fear that more of lagher Properties’ chief executive was a problem in Leeds. Salisbury Road’s trees, Nick Yandle. which produce a stunning A High Court judge will examine Crime Reports 59 spring blossom, could be on January 13 whether the devel- for the chop unless the oper’s challenge to the ruling by in- road is designated a spector Katie Peerless justifies a fresh conservation area. public inquiry. Full story – page three. Mr Yandle told Downs Mail: “We are not picking on Tony Harwood, or his comments, but no matter how earnest he may be, a public inquiry NEW INDIAN TAKEAWAY is an evidence-based process and the Park attraction Opening on Tuesday 27th October planning inquiry inspector put far too much weight on his narrative THE new Cobtree Visitor Centre Order on line www.jhalchilli.com over the evidence.” The planning in- and Cafe has opened to visitors. spector dismissed two proposals for For more information see the the site on appeal in September, one Maidstone Council-sponsored 01622 205205 12-page Borough Update in the 61, Union St. Maidstone ME14 1ED of 56,000sqm and a smaller scheme of 45,528sqm. 34 centre pages. [email protected] YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY EXPERT 23 Pudding Lane • Maidstone • Kent 01622 690290 Advertisement feature downsmail.co.uk Expand your business on the web with Webexpand IF you are considering a new website, or “A Website should make you updating your existing website in line with your growing business, Webexpand can help. money, not cost you money” Established in 2004, by David McCord, local business Webexpand has helped hundreds of David genuinely took the time to business owners to achieve a strong on-line web fully understand our business and presence that is vital for creating and developing Webexpand created a fantastic new customers. website for us. We have had Webexpand became a limited company in 2008 many comments about the look and now has offices near M20 Junction 4, close and style of our website and it has to West Malling, plus offices close to M20 helped us stand out online, which Junction 8 Maidstone. It’s been a great pleasure to work with David is tough being a start up! Since Webexpand cut out the tech jargon and provide – he deserves recognition for his excellent then we have used Webexpand to expert advice in simple, plain English. With more work and customer service than 30 years experience, Webexpand will listen further develop our website to your ideas and then provide the best solutions friendly. We have achieved Google page 1 content, build an e-commerce for you. The firm will show you how many people positions for many businesses across a diverse site and more recently for SEO per month search for your business services and range of sectors and helped them expand, so if work. Our e-commerce site went advise on the best marketing methods to help you wish to expand your business on the web, call live for deliveries and we have your business grow on-line. us now on 01732 842454.” already had an unprecedented David said: “You can increase your enquiries by Webexpand can either advise over the telephone, level of sales through our web nearly five times if your website is mobile phone or if you prefer, face to face in a meeting. platform. What more can we say! Main Services include: Thank you Webexpand! • Marketing / Search Engine Promotion • Web Site Design Alex Auger - The Juice Executive • E-Commerce Websites • Hosting • Email • Web Site Maintenance www.thejuiceexecutive.co.uk 01732 842454 Webexpand Ltd www.webexpand.co.uk West Malling & Maidstone Kent Maidstone Anyone who has experienced foot pain knows only too well how debilitating it can be. Do you have nails that are too long? Toenails that have been poorly cut can also become ingrown. If you’re struggling to cut your own nails. We offer a Footcare Service Prices are as follows: Clinic visit……..£11.90 If you are unable to leave the home our rate is Home visit………..£16.50 Couples rate.....£28.40 For more Information please Call 01622 753618 As some medical conditions apply Alternatively contact us at 7, Mill Street, Maidstone, Kent. ME15 6XW Email: [email protected] 2 Maidstone East November 2015 downsmail.co.uk News Care home is ‘’welcoming’ Call to protect road’s A CARE home in Bearsted for the elderly – some of whom have de- mentia – has earned praise from a government inspector. cherry trees from axe In an unannounced visit, the Care Quality Commission found RESIDENTS in Salisbury Road, Residents hope they and neigh- Maidstone want their street made Hillbeck Residential Care Home in bours in Curzon Road and St Luke’s part of a conservation area after two Road can create a conservation area Roundwell to be safe, effective, re- cherry trees were chopped down to protect the remaining trees. sponsive, caring and well-led, earn- without warning. In the meantime, KCC Cllr Ian ing it a “good” rating overall. Homeowner Pat Walsh was horri- Chittenden has funded the replace- The report said there were 37 fied when she woke one morning to ment of about 40 trees and is com- people living at the home when it find KCC workmen taking down one mitted to replacing five more trees in was inspected, adding: “People felt of the trees outside her home – while Holland Road, Curzon Road, Cray- safe and staff understood their re- a dead one remained standing at the ford Close and Sittingbourne Road sponsibilities to protect people liv- far end of the street. before April next year. ing with dementia. Pat and her husband Liam have Although he suspects he has no “The registered manager and lived in Salisbury Road for the past 13 funds left in his devolved budget, he care staff use their experience and years. She said: “The tree was one of has offered to make re-planting in knowledge of people’s needs to as- the reasons we bought the house. It Salisbury Road a priority in the next sess how they plan people’s care to was home to a whole host of birds – financial year.