Latest news with #NHSKentandMedway
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Kent vulnerable people urged to get spring Covid-19 jab
Thousands of people across Kent who qualify for a free Covid-19 vaccination this spring are being encouraged to make appointments. Booster jabs for the over-75s, care home residents and those who have a weakened immune system will be available from 1 April until mid eligible will receive an invitation from the NHS to encourage them to top up their Kate Langford, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Kent and Medway, said "getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to protect yourself from serious illness". Appointment can be booked online, via the NHS App or by calling 119 for Anjan Ghosh, Kent County Council director of public health, said: "Covid-19 remains a serious risk for our most vulnerable residents. "The free offer of a spring vaccination will increase your protection against the virus while lowering the chance of complications should you catch it."Dr David Whiting, director of public health at Medway Council, said: "The spring booster programme is key to protecting some of the most vulnerable members of our community."
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dentists 'stymied' in attempts to get NHS contract
Bosses at a new dental practice in east Kent have said they are being "stymied" in their attempts to secure an NHS contract, despite a "huge need" for appointments. Nightingale Dental Surgery in Margate believes it could see thousands of patients a year if permitted to provide NHS services. It said its pleas have "fallen on deaf ears" and it "cannot gain a contract for love nor money". NHS Kent and Medway said it was "in the process of evaluating expressions of interest from dental providers". Nightingale opened in February in Seacole Way and is run by Clare Henderson and Teresa Kelsall. Although a private practice, the pair want to provide NHS appointments too, to help meet the demand in the area. Ms Kelsall told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the opportunity to bid for contracts "rarely comes around" and they are "unsure when they will be able to put their case forward". She said: "A lot of the dentists in the area are corporations and they mop up a huge amount of contracts for the actual surgeries and it's really difficult to get in there and try to push our way in. "We only want a small contract, we're not asking for the world but we would like to provide NHS dentistry because I feel it's really needed." Ms Kelsall said they had been in touch with the NHS since October, and had also contacted the head of the local integrated care board, who was unable to shed light on when bidding would open. NHS Kent and Medway said millions had been ploughed in over the last two years into increasing dental provision. A spokesperson added: "Our focus is on improving patient access to routine NHS dental care where it is needed most. "We have invested £4.7m over two years in increasing dental provision across Kent and Medway through new dental contacts and expanding existing ones. ""We have recently offered additional activity in seven areas, including Thanet, and are in the process of evaluating expressions of interest from dental providers." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Plan to boost NHS dental treatments 'not on track' Extra 35,000 urgent dentist appointments promised NHS Kent and Medway
BBC News
03-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Margate dentists 'stymied' in attempts to get NHS contract
Bosses at a new dental practice in east Kent have said they are being "stymied" in their attempts to secure an NHS contract, despite a "huge need" for appointments. Nightingale Dental Surgery in Margate believes it could see thousands of patients a year if permitted to provide NHS said its pleas have "fallen on deaf ears" and it "cannot gain a contract for love nor money".NHS Kent and Medway said it was "in the process of evaluating expressions of interest from dental providers". Nightingale opened in February in Seacole Way and is run by Clare Henderson and Teresa Kelsall. Although a private practice, the pair want to provide NHS appointments too, to help meet the demand in the Kelsall told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the opportunity to bid for contracts "rarely comes around" and they are "unsure when they will be able to put their case forward".She said: "A lot of the dentists in the area are corporations and they mop up a huge amount of contracts for the actual surgeries and it's really difficult to get in there and try to push our way in."We only want a small contract, we're not asking for the world but we would like to provide NHS dentistry because I feel it's really needed." 'Improving patient access' Ms Kelsall said they had been in touch with the NHS since October, and had also contacted the head of the local integrated care board, who was unable to shed light on when bidding would Kent and Medway said millions had been ploughed in over the last two years into increasing dental provision.A spokesperson added: "Our focus is on improving patient access to routine NHS dental care where it is needed most."We have invested £4.7m over two years in increasing dental provision across Kent and Medway through new dental contacts and expanding existing ones.""We have recently offered additional activity in seven areas, including Thanet, and are in the process of evaluating expressions of interest from dental providers."
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Difficult decision' to apply to close GP branch
An application has been made to close a GP practice in north Kent. Highparks Medical Practice operates four sites at Cliffe Woods, Cliffe, Higham and Wainscott. It has made an application to close the site at Higham. The practice said that operating four sites had become "financially unsustainable due to high running and maintenance costs". On its website Highparks Medical Practice said it needed to take steps to stabilise the practice's financial position to be sustainable going forward and therefore needed to close one of its branch sites. "An independent assessment of all our sites was carried out, which included a review of staff allocation, services offered, and overall finances," said the practice. "Based on the findings, we have determined that the site closure with the least impact on our patients will be Hermitage Road, Higham. "After careful consideration and over 18 months of in-depth discussions, we are making a formal application to close this branch." Any application to close the practice has to be made to the local integrated care board (ICB), NHS Kent and Medway. The ICB has responsibility to ensure primary care services are available and that any changes do not disadvantage local people. The ICB has said it would follow its usual governance process if/when an application was received. Patients from the practice have been invited to share how the proposed closure might affect them. Highparks has launched a Patient Participation Group "to ensure this information reaches as many people in the community as possible". "The practice emphasises that this is a difficult decision, and we want to assure patients that we are committed to providing safe, high-quality care throughout this transition," added a Highpark spokesperson. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Kent and Medway GP appointments up 250k in a year 'I could not move without vomiting for six months' Health services aim to tackle Kent obesity rate Highparks Medical Practice NHS Kent and Medway
