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FREE Kent on Sunday www.kentnews.co.uk January 8, 2017 Mid edition No 746 BUSINESS Dreamland’s £10m to get ready for sale Theme park set for new owners this year DEATH Pram race doubt SPORT after tragedy All change at Hundreds attended as event took horrific turn ICON Gillingham Remembering Bowie one year on Chairman Paul Scally sacks one boss Bandstand campaign could Tuesday, hires the next on Thursday prove a local legacy Visit Standard Quay, Faversham A Totally Unique Shopping & Leisure Experience! See traditional & historic ships, visit the Garden centre, Tea Room & Coffee House, Browse round Aladdin’s Loft indoor market… THERE’S SO MUCH MORE TO STANDARD QUAY! Open 7 days a week with free on-site parking Faversham ME13 7BS • Tel 01795 597616 • www.standardquay.co.uk ADVERTISING FEATURE A winter warmer for your team and your business! 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You can find out often mean not only freezing look at their Winter Hub today? range of services – worth £150. more at www.sesbusinesswater. temperatures and possibly snow, www.sesbusinesswater.co.uk/ Entering only takes a minute, co.uk/pick-n-fix but also rain, rain and more rain. watertight 2 Week ending January 8,2017 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk Kent on Sunday PAGE PAGE 22 » 20 » Sister title of www.kentnews.co.uk To hire or not to hire, that is the council question THE plight of local councils over councils in east Kent to hold recent years has filled plenty of informal discussions about merging column inches in this newspaper - into one ‘super council’ makes the and, almost inevitably, will no doubt prospect of a restructuring of the continue to do, such is the scale of second tier of local government in the challenges they face. the county seem ever more likely. PAGE But, as we report on page five this Not necessarily out of choice, but a 19 » week, one council is taking a step sheer fight to survive. which may suggest a fundamental So we should also, in that case, shift in the way they are structured assume others must be, at the very going forward. least, considering their options. And Swale has opted not to fill the they would be remiss in their duties if vacancy of its out-going chief they were not to. After all, they have executive, instead saying it may wait a duty to examine always the best until late 2018 before doing so. use of public money. On the one hand, this could be As for Swale, this is purely interpreted as simple sound personal speculation, but if a common sense. Why rush into radically altered council PAGE PAGE such a vital hire, why not take emerges by 2020 then perhaps 12 » 14 » your time? Or, it could be a it is wise to keep its power dry simple cost-saving decision. in these austere times. The current CEO earns around Either way, it is something £198,000. Or, could it be simply worth keeping an eye on as it that the very nature of our may yet give us a hint at not PAGE councils could be on the only the confidence in 06 » cusp of changing the current status beyond recognition? quo and what The decision of lurks around the a number of Editor Chris Britcher corner. (cid:2) Kent on Sunday and its journalists are committed to abiding by the Society of Editors Code of Practice. If you have a complaint which can’t be resolved by Kent on Sunday editor Chris Britcher ([email protected]) please contact the Independent Press Standards Organisation, Gate House, 1 Farringdon Street, London, EC4M 7LG, or via complaints@ipso. co.uk. More information about IPSO and its regulations can be found at www.ipso.co.uk Contents News 11 Pennock 20 One year on HOW TO CONTACT US… PAGE 05 Dreamland’s back at Gills 25 » from Bowie Editor: Chris Britcher Email [email protected] Address: Kent House, 81 Station £10m boost All change after Justin How bandstand bid is Road, Ashford TN23 1PP Edinburgh is sacked picking up pace Editorial: News: 01233 653475 Loan extended as it Sport/Leisure: 01233 653479 12 Race fears 22 Postcards Email [email protected] prepares for sale Advertising: 06 Nigel lands after pram from the past Jobs/Notices: 01233 653461 Business: 01233 653461 chat show death fall Book uses snapshots Email [email protected] Retail/Leisure/Motors: 01233 653461 Former Ukip leader Tragedy puts future of to look back in time EDmisatirli sbauletiso@nk: o0s1m23e3d 6ia5.c3o4.7u0k gets daily radio slot event under a cloud The Arts FOLLOW US ONLINE @ 07 Nuclear 14 Which MP 25 Don’t cry for • kentnews.co.uk • kentnews.co.uk/mobile strike threat made a sir? me Evita • jobsforkent.co.uk • homes24.co.uk Pensions row could Find out who picked Cast confirmed for • drive24.co.uk • twitter@kosmedia see industrial action up a gong in honours musical tour Published in Kent and printed by Archant Print, 09 Prescription 19 Garden city’s Plus d(Civoi sRioeng oNf oA 1rc9h3a0n0t) C. Roemgmistuenreitdy MOfefidciea: LPirmositpeedc t House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE changes pilot cash boost Letters ..................... Page 32 Images of Kent ...... Patients in west Kent Gets slice of millions Page 33 will find a different for discounted homes Sport ........................Page 39 way to get medicines for the young kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 8, 2017 3 4 Week ending January 8,2017 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk s k e Dreamland gets £10m to e w y t s a prepare itself to be sold p e h a t g By Tom Pyman n i [email protected] r u d d THE cash-strapped operator of Margate’s troubled leisure k complex, Dreamland, has received u a boost after its loan facility was . extended to almost £10m in a bid o to prepare the site for a sale. c Sands Heritage Ltd entered . administration in May last year n s after racking up debts of some w £14m but has now received investment to the tune of up to e £9.915m from hedge fund com- n pany Arrowgrass, which is based t in the Cayman Islands. n A report issued to the operator’s e e creditors last year warned a sale COMPLEX: Dreamland’s revival has been dogged by financial concerns k was likely in the future if not immediately, and now administra- year leisure complex - it’s a unique plight. Council chiefs failed to to help to regenerate Margate and @ tors have told KoS the cash from facility, it’s got its own magic and respond to his comments when Thanet,” he said. “Dreamland was Arrowgrass is earmarked for its potential is huge. contacted by KoS this week. acquired, restored and opened by v s investment within the site in order “Margate still has plenty to offer However, former Thanet the investment of at least £20m of e to prepare it for a potential sale and I would argue the best is yet to councillor and blogger Ian Driver public money. later in the year. come. If we can find the best felt the investment was a move to “This massive public investment n Thanet North MP, the Conserva- person and stop the council benefit Arrowgrass, rather than is now helping to enrich people li tive Sir Roger Gale, told us: “If it’s meddling, the future is bright.” the local community. who are already incredibly d going to be sold I’d like to see it Sir Roger has repeatedly blamed “The original plan for Dream- wealthy, instead of helping to a bought by somebody who knows the local authority for “letting land was that it would be managed tackle poverty and deprivation in e e and understands the leisure down” Sands Heritage though the by a charitable trust and that Margate.” h business. Dreamland is not just an council has distanced itself from profits would be invested back into Arrowgrass was unavailable for amusement park it’s a 365-day-a- any responsibility for the operator’s the park and the local community comment. e h t s e Council stalls on CEO Agency hands over images in d a m appointment until at George Michael death probe h least September 2018 c A PHOTO agency has been asked together the last 24 hours of the i h by police to hand over images shot Wham! star. w outside the home of pop star George The photo agency, which is under Michael as it continues its investiga- no suspicion, confirmed police had COUNCILLORS in Swale say they are needs to remain responsive and tion into his shock death. been in touch as officers look to s stalling on appointing a new chief flexible if we are to achieve our The singer, 53, was found dead at identify who was coming in and out e executive until at least September corporate priorities in 2018. his home in Oxford on Christmas Day. of the performer’s home. i r 2018 as it prepares to bid farewell to “The proposed interim arrange- Now Flynet Pictures, which has Although police continue to say the o outgoing Abdool Kara next month. ments would help us maintain offices in West Malling, has been singer’s death is being treated as t Mr Kara, who earned £198,000 as momentum and stability that could asked to pass pictures over it took on ‘non suspicious’ there is speculation it S head of Swale Borough Council, be lost through inevitable uncertain- Christmas Eve as it attempts to piece could be drug related. leaves next month to join the ty and delay caused by an external National Audit Office as executive recruitment process. It also gives us leader of local services. the chance to take a period of time to Stowaway crushed to death » Download your free Councillors will discuss the options reflect on the wider strategic picture open to them this week, but are set to facing district authorities, whilst Kent News iPhone appoint current director of corporate maintaining progress. by Christmas catalogues and iPad App available services Mark Radford as interim CEO “The director of corporate services and share out key duties among the has significant senior management at the Apple App Store senior management team. experience within the council, has It would be significant both as a covered on occasions in the past the A STOWAWAY was found crushed Service Station in Sellindge, near cost-saving mechanism and in a substantive elements of the chief to death inside an HGV trailer carry- Ashford on October 18 last year. period where some councils in Kent executive role, and has wide ing a cargo of Christmas catalogues A post-mortem examination are pondering options of merging managerial experience, including in after authorities in France had found the man’s death was due to » Follow us on functions to maximise efficiencies in property and transformation.” searched it earlier, an inquest in “traumatic compressive asphyxia”. the face of relentless cuts in central The council’s appointments Maidstone heard this week. Recording a conclusion of Twitter @kosmedia or government funding. sub-committee will discuss the plans The unidentified Afro-Carib- accidental death, assistant coronor Facebook KOS Media Deputy council leader, Gerry on Tuesday. It will then put forward bean man, thought to be in his late Christopher Morris said: “I’m unable Lewin, said: “Given the fast pace of recommendations before a final 30s, was discovered with his legs to record a name...a poignant tragedy change and continuation of austerity decision is made at full council on protruding beneath the piles of given he was probably somebody’s in the public sector, the council January 25. upturned catalogues at the Airport brother, son and friend.” kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 8, 2017 5 s k e e Farage cuts political hours to host radio show w y st NIGEL Farage says he is cut his political working week final thought on the events of the day”. a from 100 to 40 hours after landing a daily radio show of The Lib Dems had questioned whether Mr Farage’s p political debate with LBC. new job - presented largely from LBC’s studios in The former Ukip leader, who lives in Westerham, will London - was compatible with his duties as a member e present an hour-long week-night phone-in. of the European Parliament where he represents the h He said the Nigel Farage Show would be “full of south east - prompting Mr Farage to announce he was a opinions, callers and reaction, as well as my nightly cutting his working week. t g n i r Proposal for yet another TOUGH: Jamie Oliver u d TV chef Jamie d k to close down u expansion to our coast’s . o restaurant c . growing wind farm estate n s w JAMIE Oliver is to close six Jamie’s Italian restaurants as the celebrity chef e is hit by a combination of rising Brexit n cost pressures and tough trading. t By Chris Britcher working at Vattenfall’s busy Ram- And it will spell the end of his outlet in n sgate Harbour operations base sup- Tunbridge Wells which opened less than e [email protected] e porting the three wind farms in the two years ago. k Kent cluster: Thanet, Kentish Flats The closures will impact 120 staff, A WIND farm off the Kent coast and Kentish Flats Extension. although the company will attempt to @ could be set to be extended by a fur- As the extension would be consid- place those affected in other parts of ther 34 turbines. ered a major infrastructure invest- Oliver’s restaurant empire. v s Vattenfall, the Swedish energy ment by planners the planning proc- Restaurants in Aberdeen, Chelten- e company, has revealed early plans to ess will be handled by the Planning ham, Exeter, Ludgate, Richmond (both extend its Thanet Offshore Wind Inspectorate and a development in London) and Tunbridge Wells are all n Farm which already boasts 100 of consent order (DCO) is required to be scheduled to close in the first quarter, li the huge turbines in the sea some granted by the government’s energy the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group said d 10-15km off Foreness Point. secretary. on Friday. The chain comprises of 42 a Now it holding five public infor- The meetings, which will feature Jamie’s Italian outlets nationwide. e e mation days in Thanet to gauge pub- all the plans and have experts on Chief executive Simon Blagden said: h lic opinion. hand to provide further informa- “As every restaurant owner knows, this Helen Jameson, the project direc- tion, take place on January 20 at the is a tough market and, post-Brexit, the e tor for the expansion scheme, said: Royal Temple Yacht Club in Ram- pressures and unknowns have made it h “Vattenfall’s Kent cluster of offshore sgate from 2-7pm; then Broadstairs even harder. t wind power has made an important Pavilion on January 21 from 11am “While our overall business is in very s e ceoconntroimbuyt iaonnd t coo tmhem Tuhnaintye.t and Kent WINDY: Turbines off our coast to O4npm Ja.nuary 23 it will be at the gliokoed-f oshr-alipkee -s walee sf ignrioshwetdh l aanstd y aena r with d “We think there is an opportunity Walpole Hotel in Cliftonville, Mar- increase in covers - because we refuse to a to add more green energy capacity ple’s concerns and hopes for the ex- gate, from 2-7pm and on January 26 compromise on the quality and m to the existing Thanet Offshore tension. We urge people to come at The Guildhall in Sandwich from provenance of our ingredients and our Wind Farm to deliver cheap, green, along to one of our drop in sessions 2-7pm. commitment to training and developing h economy boosting electricity. and ask the specialists on hand The final date is January 28 at our staff, we need restaurants that can “We are at the early stages but it’s about our early plans.” Cliffsend Village Hall, also running serve an average of 3,000 covers every c important we understand local peo- More than 70 people are currently from 2-7pm. week to be sustainable.” i h w Jail after stamping TV show Flog It set Deadline nears for s e i on face in nightclub to film at cathedral primary school spots r o t S A PARTY goer who stamped on a man’s face, TELEVISION presenter Paul Martin and his Flog It PARENTS are being reminded time is running out to fracturing his jaw in two places, during a vicious team are set to visit Rochester Cathedral this month. submit applications to secure their a place at a assault in a Dartford nightclub, has been sen- The antiques programme, which recently filmed primary school in September. tenced to six years behind bars. its 1,000th episode and regularly achieves an Applications for primary, infant and junior places in » Download your free John Jeeves, of Reddy Road, Erith, carried out audience of over two million viewers in its weekday Kent schools closes on January 16. the assault at the Air and Breathe nightspot in afternoon slot, rolls into Medway on January 25 Last year there were 500 late applications out of the Kent News iPhone Essex Road, and was sentenced at Maidstone between 9.30am and 4pm. 17,400 families needing a school place. and iPad App available Crown Court this week. The cathedral will host the show’s valuation day, Roger Gough, KCC’s cabinet member for education, The 22-year-old had pleaded guilty to actual where members of the public are invited to bring up said: “The best way to apply is online. 94 per cent of all at the Apple App Store bodily harm with intent in connection with the to three antiques or collectables they might be applications are now made that way and we really incident on March 24, 2014. interested in selling. Once valued the owner and a encourage parents to apply as soon as possible. If Following a brawl, Jeeves pulled his victim to the team of experts decide whether an object is filmed parents do not apply in time their child could miss out floor and stamped on his face, before punching the and gets sent to Hop Farm Auctions in Paddock Wood on a school place at their preferred school.” same man as he struggled to get to his feet. for inclusion in their sale on February 15. Every child born between September 1, 2012, and » Follow us on His victim was taken to hospital and diagnosed Everyone who goes along to the valuation day at August 31, 2013, needs to be registered for a school with two fractures to his jaw, which required metal the cathedral will receive a free appraisal of their place, along with those who are moving from Infant Twitter @kosmedia or plates to fix as well as the removal of one of his items – even if their antiques are not chosen for school to junior school. Facebook KOS Media wisdom teeth. Detective constable Matt Lincoln filming and to go forward for auction. Families can apply for up to three schools, putting said: “His unprovoked actions show he is a The BBC will be making four editions of the show them in order of preference. Allocations will be danger to the public and deserves to be behind featuring Rochester Cathedral and they will be announced on April 18. To apply online, visit www. bars.” transmitted within 18 months of recording. kent.gov.uk/ola. 6 Week ending January 8, 2017 East kent-life.co.uk kentnews.co.uk Could nuclear workers be next Jailed for ‘controlling, coercive’ behaviour to strike over pensions row? JAN Horvath, 36, has been jailed for two years for using ‘controlling and coercive’ behaviour against his former partner. Horvath of Tontine Street, Folkestone, pleaded By Alan Jones guilty to the crime against a 22-year-old woman from Dover. [email protected] He had subjected her to a catalogue of physical and emotional abuse after she moved in with him. UNION leaders representing thousands of He is also subject to a five-year restraining order. nuclear workers are to discuss calling a strike ballot in a row over pensions. Power cut puts town The unions said 16,000 workers at 19 sites face cuts under plans by the Nuclear Decom- missioning Authority to make savings of centre into darkness £660 million. The workers are based at Sellafield (Cum- bria), Magnox (Anglesey), Ayrshire, Dorset, HUNDREDS of properties were hit by a power cut Dumfriesshire, Essex, Gloucestershire, in Ashford town centre on Tuesday afternoon. Gwynedd, Kent, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suf- An underground electricity cable was blamed folk, Direct Rail Services (Cumbria), Doun- after it plunged offices and businesses into reay Site Restoration Ltd (Caithness), Low darkness. Traffic lights on the ring road were also Level Waste Repository (Cumbria) and Inter- hit. Power went out at around 1pm to around 435 national Nuclear Services (Cumbria, War- POWER: Dungeness B power station on the Kent coast customers and was restored at around 3pm. rington). The unions said the Government’s expec- run these nuclear facilities are in fact public pounds. tation is that the final salary pension sector organisations and therefore Sellafield, “It is blatantly clear that the NDA is the Celeb BB for James schemes in place across the NDA estate will Dounreay and the Magnox sites should go stalking horse for the government is which be reformed by April 2018. through the same reforms as the rest of the hell-bent in saving £660 million over the Justin Bowden, GMB national officer, said: public sector itself.” period of decommissioning.” STRICTLY Come Dancing star James Jordan found “There is no justification for this attack on Kevin Coyne, Unite national officer, said: Dai Hudd, Prospect’s deputy general sec- himself back on reality TV this week after the pensions of these nuclear workers and “We are urging all our members working for retary, added: “Prospect members are entering the Celebrity Big Brother house. their communities. the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority some of the most highly skilled workers in The latest series kicked off the new year with “These pension funds are in a sound state (NDA) to resist this proposed Treasury-led the UK. There can be no justification for the 38-year-old, who lives with wife and I’m A and underwent considerable reform 10 years ‘raid’ on their pensions - if it is allowed to go- these cuts to the future pensions of these Celebrity star Ola Jordan in Kings Hill, lining up as ago. What the government are saying is that ahead thousands of workers will see their workers.” one of the famous faces on the Channel 5 show. the privatised site license companies who retirement incomes slashed by thousands of The unions will meet next Monday. He has appeared before in the show. kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 8, 2017 7 Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Experienced appointment Pogues star mourns loss to head up ambulance trust of his mother in car crash THE mother of Shane MacGow- single car collision with a wall,” an, frontman of Irish band The he added. AMBULANCE chiefs have appointed a Pogues, has died in a car crash. Shane MacGowan, best new chief executive as they looks to Therese MacGowan, 87, spent known for his festive hit song steady their ship after a traumatic year. several years living in Kent and Fairytale of New York, was born Former chief executive of the gave birth to the singer at in Tunbridge Wells before South East Coast Ambulance Pembury Hospital in 1957. growing up in County Tipper- Service NHS Foundation Trust She became the first person ary. He then moved back to (SECAmb), Paul Sutton, quit last to die on County Tipperary’s England when he was six, and May after he became embroiled in a roads in 2017 when the car she attended Holmewood House controversial scheme used by the was driving struck a wall in prep school in Langton Green. trust which delayed sending help to Ballintoher on New Year’s Day, He once told a newspaper: “I some emergency calls and sparked Irish police said. used to learn a song a day from a major review. Ms MacGowan, the car’s sole my mother’s family, so I built up Replaced on an interim basis by occupant, was pronounced a huge repertoire. I gave my Geraint Davies, the role will now be dead at the scene near her first performance when I was taken over by Daren Mochrie. home in Silvermines at around three. They put me up on the With nearly 30 years’ experience 3pm, the force added. kitchen table to sing and the of working in the NHS in Scotland both rural and urban settings. SECAmb chairman Sir Peter A spokesman for An Garda song went down very well. I did and currently the director of He was also the lead for ambu- Dixon said: “I’m confident he will Siochana, the Republic of public performances regularly service delivery for the Scottish lance provision in the 2014 provide the necessary leadership to Ireland’s national police force, after that. I owe my career Ambulance Service, Mr Mochrie Commonwealth Games in Glasgow support our recovery.” said the crash was being treated entirely to my family and to the has extensive experience of as well as being a specialist advisor A start date has yet to be con- as an accident. way I was brought up. I am managing ambulance services in with the Care Quality Commission. firmed. “It would appear to be a very grateful to them.” Chef is ‘one to watch’ Lifeboat’s dinghy mission Pulse firm in the money Abandoned baby arrest WEST Malling chef Scott Goss, who works at LIFEBOAT crews in Whitstable had to AN international pulse business based in THE mother of a baby abandoned outside The Twenty Six restaurant in Southborough, rescue two people in a blue dinghy rowing Yalding and bought for just £1 over 20 years the Co-op in Whitstable on Tuesday has Tunbridge Wells, has been named as one of towards Reculver in choppy seas without ago has been bought out. been bailed by police until March. the top 17 chefs to look out for in 2017 by any life jackets. Commodities trader and financial Police were called to the store on Canter- Olive magazine. The boat was intercepted off Herne Bay services firm ED&F Man has struck a bury Road after receiving a report of Known as a ‘test kitchen’ each day’s menu and escorted safely to the shore where the multi-million deal to purchase supplier concern for the welfare of the mother and is dependant on ingredients. rowers were given safety advice. Maviga. child. Maintain Construction Ltd We transform homes... Don’t move, improve! Do you need additional bedroom space, a bigger kitchen or entertaining space? Maintain Construction Ltd can help with your initial ideas through to completion. We also import fine, affordable kitchens and bathrooms. For a job well done, give us a call and let’s talk about your property needs Canterbury 01227 207 111 Ramsgate, Margate & Broadstairs 01843 269 736 www.maintaintotalpropertycare.co.uk Like and follow us for top tips and competitions 8 Week ending January 8, 2017 East kent-life.co.uk kentnews.co.uk Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Kentnews.co.uk... Shake-up to repeat prescriptions Tom Pyman on significant changes to the way we order tablets as a CCG in west Kent starts a pilot scheme tomorrow designed to cut down on the amount of NHS spending on drugs we never use... H EALTH chiefs in the day, excluding bank holidays, £300M COST OF MEDICINES west of the county between 8am and 4pm. are set to roll out a The CCG insists it will be a significant change dedicated line staffed by experi- to the way many enced medicines coordinators ACCORDING to campaign group Only Order What people order repeat prescriptions who will have knowledge You Need, the cost of unused medicines costs the directly from their pharmacist in of common prescription NHS hundreds of millions each year. the latest move to save money medicines. It cites a report by the Department of Health which and ease the financial plight of Each time a patient calls they estimates unused medicines cost the NHS around local healthcare. will review each of the patient’s £300 million every year, with an estimated £110m The NHS West Kent Clinical medicines with them and dis- worth of medicine returned to pharmacies, £90m Commissioning Group (CCG), cuss the patient’s current stock worth of unused prescriptions being stored in homes which plans and buys health- levels to ensure that orders are and £50m worth of medicines disposed of by care care for the people of Maidstone, only placed for items the patient homes. Tonbridge and Malling, Tun- genuinely needs. A spokesman added: “These startling figures don’t bridge Wells and the southern The medicines will be collect- even take into account the cost to patients’ health if part of Sevenoaks, is trialling a ed from or delivered by the phar- medicines are not being correctly taken. If medicine is new system next week – starting macy that the patient nominates left unused, this could lead to worsening symptoms tomorrow (Monday). each time. and extra treatments that could have been avoided. Starting with patients regis- The changes are being intro- “Sometimes patients receive medicines they don’t tered at Aylesford Medical Cen- duced to save money and reduce actually use, or use only occasionally. This means that tre and St Andrew’s Medical the thousands of pounds wasted they can lose out on the intended health benefits of Centre in Southborough, before every year on medicines that are their prescription. moving onto other areas, the not needed. COSTS: West Kent chiefs hope the move will help ease budgets “The reasons why patients don’t take all their medi- changes mean patients will now Bob Bowes, chair of West Kent cation can vary and audits have shown that around either order prescription medi- Clinical Commissioning Group, “Many patients order repeat “The changes will affect those half of all the medication returned had not even been cine from the GP surgery or via a said: “The introduction of a pre- prescriptions directly through people that have relied on their opened. This means that patients are ordering and re- new Prescription Ordering Di- scription ordering service will their GP and they will not need pharmacist to reorder medicines ceiving medication that they don’t even start to use. rect service (POD). help us to cut unnecessary costs to do anything different, but GP for them. “By reducing the amount of medicines being wasted The POD will be accessed via a and reduce the amount of medi- surgeries cannot take any repeat “The money saved by these each year, we could increase the available funding for local number – 01732 375 262 – cines that are being prescribed prescription order over the small changes will be re-invest- other desperately needed health services.” that is available Monday to Fri- that end up in the bin. phone. ed in other areas of patient care.” GIRLING’S MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE HELPDESK Call us on 0845 2221 999 or email us at [email protected] For a FREE, no obligation chat about your claim for negligent medical treatment MEMBER OF www.girlingpersonalinjury.co.uk KENT no win no fee specialists kentnews.co.uk kent-life.co.uk East Week ending January 8, 2017 9 10 Week ending January 8,2017 kent-life.co.uk www.kentnews.co.uk