Just before Christmas, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England produced its latest report on the East Kent Hospitals Trust. The Trust is responsible for our main local hospitals, including the William Harvey at Ashford and the Royal Victoria in Folkestone. In 2014 the Trust was put into special measures by the NHS, and since then has been working, under the leadership of a new Chief Executive, Matthew Kershaw, to turn around its performance.
The report published by the CQC in December, followed its third inspection of the East Kent Trust since 2014, and focused on emergency care, medical services, maternity and gynecology and end of life care. The CQC gave positive scores in all areas of the Trust’s work as a result of ‘further significant improvements’. The East Kent hospitals were rated ‘good’ for caring, with the report underlining a ‘culture of compassionate care’. The CQC also noted that there had been a big improvement in the leadership of the Trust, which had been one of the major criticisms when it was originally put into special measures. The report in December stated that there is now a ‘highly engaged team with a clear and common view on Trust strategy, risk and operational priorities’, who have provided ‘greater clarity’ about the direction of the Trust, with staff ‘appreciative of the increased visibility and accessibility’ of the Executive Team. As a result of this report, the CQC has recommended that the Trust be taken out of special measures.
I would like to congratulate Matthew Kershaw, and all of the medical and administrative staff at the East Kent Hospitals Trust on the turn around its performance. Our hospitals provide vital services to our community, and whilst there will always be areas of treatment where they are striving to provide higher still levels of care, it is great to see that the improvements that have been made over the last three years have been recognised by the CQC.
The Leas Lift in Folkestone has been a fixture in the town since it first opened in 1885, linking the centre to the seafront. I was very concerned to read this week that the lift is now due to close as a result of the high cost of maintenance. The Health and Safety Executive has recommended that a new braking system is fitted, and that this is expected to cost around £80,000. Over the last few years the lift has been operated by a community interest company, largely run by volunteers, and they understandably do not have the resources to meet this cost. The lift itself had been formerly run by Shepway Council and is owned by the Radnor Estate. I believe that the Leas Lift is an important part of our heritage and a vital asset to our town. I will do all I can to keep it open. On Friday this week, I have arranged a special meeting bringing together the operators of the lift, with representatives of the Radnor Estate, and the leader of Shepway District Council, David Monk, to see what can be done to put in place a plan to save it.