Our local NHS is changing, and thanks to additional funding for GPs in Folkestone from the Prime Minister’s challenge fund, that will mean an extended out of hours services. Last week I discussed these changes with Dr Darren Cocker, who is the clinical chair of the South Kent Coast commissioning group. GPs in Folkestone and Dover have been awarded £1.89 million to fund this new out of hours service. This will mean that in addition to services provided by their local practises, patients will be able to see a GP seven days a week, between 8am and 8pm at Folkestone hospital. This will also enable the nursing team at the walk in centre at the Royal Victoria to spend more time treating injuries such as broken arms and lower legs, sprains and minor burns; a service that is not provided by GP practices. GPs working at Folkestone hospital providing this new out of hours service, which is expected to start in the autumn, will also have full access to patient medical records, just as if they were working at their local surgery.
Further changes to our local healthcare provision will also include a new urgent home visit service; enhanced community care with short-term residential facilities in the community to avoid hospital admissions; and for patients with urgent mental health needs, a new rapid assessment service delivered by a primary care mental health specialist, either at a patient’s home or at their GP surgery.
Folkestone will be the first location in Kent to benefit from these changes, and it is hoped that this new service will been rolled out to other locations across the district shortly afterwards. This additional investment for local GPs will help them to provide more of the kind of service that patients want; one that is delivered closer to them, in the community and avoiding unnecessary and expensive trips to hospital. The South Kent Coast Clinical Commissioning Group is holding public meetings to discuss these changes and you can find out more about these, and read about the reforms through their website www.southkentcoastccg.nhs.uk.
Last Friday I visited the Kent Show at Detling, and it was good once again to meet some of the young farmers from Brockhill Park Academy, who were exhibiting livestock from the school's farm. Once again they were amongst the prizes for their sheep and cows, and you could see the real pride and dedication they had taken in preparing their animals for the show. Kent has a well deserved reputation as one of the strongest areas in the country for supporting young farmers, and I hope that many of them go on to work in the industry. Later that day I also attended the summer show for the Hythe Art Society at the Tin Tabernacle in Hythe. There was as always an excellent presentation of work from local arts of all ages. You can find out more about the society through its website www.hytheartsociety.co.uk.