Latest news with #Gravesham
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
NHS trust investigates after ‘unnecessary delay' for thousands of patients
An NHS trust has identified 8,849 patients whose referrals to ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists were 'not correctly managed', leading to 'unnecessary' delays in care. The patients were waiting for ENT appointments provided by Medway NHS Foundation Trust (MNFT) operating out of Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham and Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford. The trust said it was 'very sorry' for the delays caused to patients and has commissioned an independent investigation. Some 4,279 adults and children were awaiting a first outpatient appointment after a referral, while 4,570 existing patients were awaiting a follow-up appointment, diagnostic test or procedure. Approximately 20% of those affected are children, and a few patients have waited as much as five years to be seen, the trust confirmed. Jonathan Wade, chief executive of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and interim chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We are very sorry for the unnecessary delay experienced by some of our ENT patients. 'We are in the process of contacting patients to apologise and make arrangements for them to be seen as quickly as possible.' The delays affected patients predominantly in the Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley, Bexley and Greenwich areas. When these referrals were first received, they were reviewed by a clinician and assessed as routine, meaning that no urgent concerns, such as cancer, were identified at the time, the trust has said. Mr Wade continued: 'We have taken immediate action to ensure referrals to this service are correctly managed, with stronger oversight and improved systems in place. 'A full, independent investigation has been commissioned to understand how the error occurred and if anyone has come to harm as a result of these unnecessary delays. 'We are committed to learning from this so that it does not happen again.' MNFT declined to comment on whether the commissioned investigation has begun, and how long it will take.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS trust investigates after ‘unnecessary delay' for thousands of patients
An NHS trust has identified 8,849 patients whose referrals to ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists were 'not correctly managed', leading to 'unnecessary' delays in care. The patients were waiting for ENT appointments provided by Medway NHS Foundation Trust (MNFT) operating out of Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham and Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford. The trust said it was 'very sorry' for the delays caused to patients and has commissioned an independent investigation. Some 4,279 adults and children were awaiting a first outpatient appointment after a referral, while 4,570 existing patients were awaiting a follow-up appointment, diagnostic test or procedure. Approximately 20% of those affected are children, and a few patients have waited as much as five years to be seen, the trust confirmed. Jonathan Wade, chief executive of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and interim chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We are very sorry for the unnecessary delay experienced by some of our ENT patients. 'We are in the process of contacting patients to apologise and make arrangements for them to be seen as quickly as possible.' The delays affected patients predominantly in the Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley, Bexley and Greenwich areas. When these referrals were first received, they were reviewed by a clinician and assessed as routine, meaning that no urgent concerns, such as cancer, were identified at the time, the trust has said. Mr Wade continued: 'We have taken immediate action to ensure referrals to this service are correctly managed, with stronger oversight and improved systems in place. 'A full, independent investigation has been commissioned to understand how the error occurred and if anyone has come to harm as a result of these unnecessary delays. 'We are committed to learning from this so that it does not happen again.' MNFT declined to comment on whether the commissioned investigation has begun, and how long it will take.
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Labour-run council orders tenants to remove balcony washing lines
Tenants at a council-owned block of flats in Kent have criticised new rules that restrict washing lines and furniture on their balconies. Labour-controlled Gravesham borough council cited concerns about 'combustible' materials on the outside of properties in Northfleet as its reason for imposing the regulations. But residents have complained that the order, which also covers balcony furniture, is 'unreasonable'. Tracy, 45, who did not wish to give her surname, said the council told the residents to 'take everything off' their balconies because of 'fire safety'. 'More emphasis on fire risks' She said one family over the road from her had been told to take their washing lines down, adding: 'At the end of the day, they are saying plastic chairs can combust... Have you ever seen a plastic chair combust? 'I have a chair and table on my balcony, and I've already had to take my wooden fence down because [the council] said they would take it down and charge me if I didn't. I'm paying for a balcony I can't use.' The council said in a statement that 'more emphasis is being placed on the risk of external fire spread' following the Grenfell Tower tragedy of 2017. But resident Steve Reely, 61, said the new rules were 'petty'. He said: '[The council] leave lots of rubbish all over town but we have to keep our balconies clean. In some respects, it's petty. It's like someone is trying to justify their job. 'There are greater fire risks than our personal balconies. It's ridiculous.' Residents said a letter from the council states that items such as 'screening around metal fencing, belongings made of wood, plastic, textiles and any other materials' are a 'fire risk', and they had been instructed to remove them immediately. Karen Noakes, 57, said: 'All I've got on my balcony is a kid's bike and scooter and two washing lines. What's the problem with that? They're not a fire hazard. She suggested she would remove her washing lines 'if the council are going to pay for me to use my dryer'. A council spokesman said: 'Our tenants and leaseholders have recently been contacted by us regarding fire safety issues particularly around balconies. 'During fire risk assessments carried out at Shepherd Street, our assessors found numerous balconies with combustible screening fitted, which could allow flames to spread vertically up the building, and advised the screening should be removed. 'Since the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, much more emphasis is being placed on the risk of external fire spread.' Advice from fire chiefs The spokesman added that the National Fire Chiefs Council advises against 'barbecues, fire pits, patio heaters, or chimneys on balconies, and recommends keeping balconies free from clutter, combustible materials, and flammable items'. 'We have recently updated our building safety advice for tenants, which includes advice on balcony fire safety and a comprehensive but not exhaustive list of items that have the potential to cause or help the spread of fire, and which are therefore not permitted on balconies,' the spokesman said. They added that requests to residents 'to keep their balconies clear of flammable material and clutter' is intended to 'minimise the risk' of serious incidents.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Labour might be down, but it's not necessarily out - voters reflect on a year in power
"There's only one relationship that really matters," a senior figure in government told me in the middle of Labour's dreadful week, where ministers lost control of their backbenchers. "It's the one with the voters." Well, that relationship has soured since Labour has been in power. After days of frenzied coverage in Westminster around an anniversary the party might rather forget, what is the state of that vital relationship?We gathered a group of Labour's 2024 voters together to delve into what's gone wrong, according to those who matter the most – the public. Our participants were from two constituencies in Kent: Dartford and Gravesham. Both seats were won by Labour in the heady days of July 2024, thanks not only to Labour's campaign itself, but the collapse of the Conservative vote. And the swing to Sir Keir Starmer's party in both places was enormous, nearly 20%.Our panel was selected by the political research group, More in Common, and the questions were asked to the group not by me, but by its director, Luke Tryl. It's worth knowing too, when our panel was recruited, they were not told they would be asked about could have been for any other market research exercise, for washing powder or water bills, rather than anything to do with Westminster - so it wasn't a gathering of political our group, who all voted Labour last time, certainly had a strong sense of what has happened to the government they elected just twelve months ago, and it wasn't of all, we asked the group about their impressions of Labour's first year back in office, overwhelming sense, and one of the words used most often was "disappointed". "I've always been Labour, but I expected much more from them," Yvette, who's 57 and a nutritionist said. "I thought they'd be there for the people."Kelly is 35, and a stay-at-home mum. She was frustrated about what she sees as a lack of progress on immigration. "Everything they promised, nothing has come of it yet," Kelly said. "Immigration is a big thing for me."Adam, is an illustrator aged 37. He was a bit more forgiving of Sir Keir's problems: "They are patching things up, the first year is not the year to push the big ideas, let's steady the ship."But 30-year-old Sodiq, who owns his own business, reckons Labour hadn't been completely straight about what its plans were to start with."I think a lot of the things that were promised were never going to happen," Sodiq who's 35 and a teacher, even told us, "I feel lied to". What about the chaos of Parliament this week, and Labour's many changes of direction since they've been in office? The group had definitely noticed what had gone on in the last seven days, not always the case when it comes to shenanigans in a 64-year-old carer, had seen the chancellor's tears and had some sympathy."I think she's trying her best - there are going to be teething problems, it's only the first year." But she said, "crying at the Commons the other day and Keir Starmer didn't even notice, but everyone else did? Sometimes I think, 'Is it the pressure getting to her?'".Hayley, who is a personal assistant, was also dubious that Sir Keir didn't notice, but reckons the government deserves more time."You can't turn the country round in a year," the 40-year-old it was clear the group had reservations about Labour's repeated shifts in position - whether on welfare this week, or winter fuel praising Sir Keir for listening, Adam said: "What happened this week - another U-turn - was worrying, it pushes the idea that there is no direction."Yvette said "if he makes a decision he should stand by it", changes of heart were like " In the general election there were big shifts towards Reform UK, even though they didn't win either the Dartford or Gravesham Kent was one of the 10 councils Farage's party took control of in the local elections this progress has certainly been noticed. Kelly said: "They are picking away at figures and picking away at other things – they seem to be doing things, and proactive."Given how Reform is doing in the national polls, consistently ahead of the other political parties, it was no surprise that some of the group were thinking about giving Nigel Farage a chance next time round."If there were an election tomorrow I would vote for him," Yvette said, suggesting he should be given a chance even though "a lot of bad things are said about him". But Sodiq said: "I'm at the other end of the scale. He's a politician, like others, who says things people want to hear, and people generally are not comfortable with the two main parties, and just want to try something else."Labour is worried by their grisly position in the polls, and there's something of a sense of bewilderment too about just how shaky things have got in the last few at senior levels, sources believe if they keep on keeping on, eventually, many voters like those we met this weekend will return to them if hopes for improvements in the NHS and the economy come to pass. Sign up for the Off Air with Laura K newsletter to get Laura Kuenssberg's expert insight and insider stories every week, emailed directly to you. Watch tomorrow to hear the advice that our group would give Sir Keir Starmer in order to improve, to make that course this is only a taste of what's on some voter's minds in just two constituencies, but the mood was certainly disappointed with what has, and has not happened since Labour moved back into power. But there was a sense, a grudging willingness among these Labour voters to give Sir Keir and the government more twelve months, Labour is most certainly down, but not necessarily out. Top image credit: Reuters BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Decision upheld to stop land near Gravesham being used for HGVs
A government planning inspector has upheld the decision of a Kent council which demanded that a former nursery stop being used for commercial Borough Council issued an enforcement notice last December, ordering a drainage company to cease using the site on Walnut Hill Road, Istead Rise, as a company was asked to remove all HGV tanker lorries from the land, which is a green belt site. An appeal against the notice was unsuccessful and the planning inspector refused to grant planning permission for a change of its use. The council issued the enforcement notice following the change of use of Walnut Hill Nursery from agricultural to mixed commercial, business and services without planning Shane Mochrie-Cox, cabinet member for planning and business development, said the use of green belt site as a base for HGVs was causing "serious concerns for local residents".He added: "To us, the detrimental impact of the unapproved change of use was not something the council could accept and which we could not let go unchallenged."
