The Cake - Spring 2022
A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life
MP’S COMMENT Setting a National Standard in Cancer Care Pembury and Maidstone hospitals leading the way on NHS backlog, says our MP Helen Grant The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Chancellor Rishi Sunak, visited Kent Oncology Centre at Maidstone Hospital in February, marking World Cancer Day. I was pleased to join the tour and was delighted to see the progress that the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) is making on addressing the Covid backlog. Lockdowns, and fear of infection at hospital, prevented many patients with non-Covid medical conditions, from presenting themselves for diagnosis and treatment. Those people are now coming forward and one of the areas hardest-hit has been in cancer treatment. I am delighted to report that MTW is setting the national standard – with cancer patients receiving treatment within 62 days of diagnosis – for 29 months in a row. Our trust is one of the most efficient cancer units in the UK and the Prime Minister remarked upon this achievement saying: “I want the whole country to be able to meet these standards”. The trust’s chief executive, Miles Scott, explained to us the enormous efforts they are making in staff, services and facilities are paying off. MTW has invested over £10m in new buildings and provided 12 additional cancer consultants for specialist care in the past three years, with consultant availability now seven days a week. “Maidstone Hospital also has one of Kent’s three newly-elevated 46 bed hyper-acute stroke units. That means local stroke patients are being admitted and treated faster than ever before, which is so critical for this condition” During the visit, Miles and I took an opportunistic moment to make a pitch to the Chancellor about money – £31.3 million pounds to be exact. It is for a new theatre block which would significantly increase the trust’s orthopaedic surgical capacity with four state-of-the-art operating theatres, a 20-bed inpatient ward and a 16-bed day case ward. Let’s see. Maidstone Hospital also has one of Kent’s three newlyelevated 46 bed hyper-acute stroke units. That means local stroke patients are being admitted and treated faster than ever before, which is so critical for this condition. As we emerge from the pandemic, the progress being made across the MTW Trust for residents in Cranbrook and Sissinghurst is significant. I will continue to work with Miles, and his excellent teams in Pembury and Maidstone, to deliver the best health services possible for the people of Maidstone and The Weald. 18 The Cake • Spring 2022
LOCAL COMMENT IVOR'S COLUMN The Rich History of the Crane Brook Ivor Hatcher, our long-time parish warden, takes a look at the meandering path taken by the town’s pretty stream Often, when I am picking cans, bottles, bikes, and other rubbish out of the Crane Brook, I think of its rich history, powering industries past. Who would believe that the stream that runs through the Crane Valley, from which the name of Cranbrook derives, used to play such an important part in the industry of the town in yesteryear? The stream rises at Hartley, winding its way through field and woodland to the Tanyard, where surface water from other areas of the town flow into it. The Crane Brook, which becomes Hammer Stream at Hammer Mill on the outskirts of Sissinghurst, is a tributary to the River Beult winding its way from Ashford through Headcorn and on to Yalding, where it joins the River Medway. The Crane once had tributaries that powered the town’s watermills at the Freight and Baker’s Cross. These were probably ‘fulling mills’, which formed part of the woollen industry. In the Tanyard, John Tooth, a hat maker, used the power of the water to power his hat factory. Hard to believe that there was enough water to power a water mill. As it flowed, it once powered several watermills, including one at Moat Farm, and the Sissinghurst watermill, which was on the site of Lake Chad. It is surprising how much the river does rise when there is heavy rainfall. The grid in the Tanyard prevents the river blocking under the car park, as has happened in the past, flooding the Old Bakery several times. I once saw a mini car float across the car park because the water was so high! Toilets to Re-Open with Children’s Murals! As you are most likely aware, we have been without public toilets in Cranbrook for some while. This is not acceptable in such a vibrant place. The parish council took over responsibility for the toilets from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council after they had expended almost all of their funding trying to maintain the building due to repeated vandalism, leading to their closure. The parish council looked at several sites in the town for suitable temporary toilet facilities but, due to varying factors, none of these sites proved viable. We have decided to take the risk of opening the toilets again by refurbishing the Ladies, making them Unisex and available 24/7. The disabled facilities will also be opening, accessed by key. To keep costs down, it was agreed to keep the old gents’ space closed. We had not envisaged spending any money on the externals but we were contacted by the Belle Vue School, whose headteacher and pupils had commented on the poor state of toilets. The children came up with the idea of murals they would paint on the outside walls and doors. They are aware of vandalism but are happy to make good any damage by looking at the building on a weekly basis. We are very pleased by their kind offer and applaud their willingness to support our community in such a way. We have decided to invest some of your money on doing something different by providing and having constructed a timber shelter for youngsters to gather in the Crane Valley. This will, hopefully, distract them from further damage to the loos. Any other constructive ideas are very welcome. Cllr Colin Gilbert, chairman Burial Grounds and Properties The Cake • Spring 2022 19
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MP’S COMMENT<br />
Setting a National<br />
Standard in Cancer Care<br />
Pembury and Maidstone hospitals leading the way<br />
on NHS backlog, says our MP Helen Grant<br />
<strong>The</strong> Prime Minister,<br />
Boris Johnson, and<br />
Chancellor Rishi<br />
Sunak, visited Kent<br />
Oncology Centre at<br />
Maidstone Hospital in February,<br />
marking World Cancer Day.<br />
I was pleased to join the tour<br />
and was delighted to see the<br />
progress that the Maidstone<br />
and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust<br />
(MTW) is making on addressing<br />
the Covid backlog. Lockdowns,<br />
and fear of infection at hospital,<br />
prevented many patients with<br />
non-Covid medical conditions,<br />
from presenting themselves for<br />
diagnosis and treatment. Those<br />
people are now coming forward<br />
and one of the areas hardest-hit<br />
has been in cancer treatment.<br />
I am delighted to report that<br />
MTW is setting the national<br />
standard – with cancer patients<br />
receiving treatment within<br />
62 days of diagnosis – for 29<br />
months in a row. Our trust is<br />
one of the most efficient cancer<br />
units in the UK and the Prime<br />
Minister remarked upon this<br />
achievement saying: “I want<br />
the whole country to be able to<br />
meet these standards”.<br />
<strong>The</strong> trust’s chief executive,<br />
Miles Scott, explained to us<br />
the enormous efforts they are<br />
making in staff, services and<br />
facilities are paying off. MTW<br />
has invested over £10m in<br />
new buildings and provided 12<br />
additional cancer consultants<br />
for specialist care in the past<br />
three years, with consultant<br />
availability now seven days a<br />
week.<br />
“Maidstone Hospital also has one of Kent’s three newly-elevated<br />
46 bed hyper-acute stroke units. That means local stroke<br />
patients are being admitted and treated faster than ever before,<br />
which is so critical for this condition”<br />
During the visit, Miles<br />
and I took an opportunistic<br />
moment to make a pitch to<br />
the Chancellor about money<br />
– £31.3 million pounds to be<br />
exact. It is for a new theatre<br />
block which would significantly<br />
increase the trust’s orthopaedic<br />
surgical capacity with four<br />
state-of-the-art operating<br />
theatres, a 20-bed inpatient<br />
ward and a 16-bed day case<br />
ward. Let’s see.<br />
Maidstone Hospital also has<br />
one of Kent’s three newlyelevated<br />
46 bed hyper-acute<br />
stroke units. That means local<br />
stroke patients are being<br />
admitted and treated faster<br />
than ever before, which is so<br />
critical for this condition.<br />
As we emerge from the<br />
pandemic, the progress being<br />
made across the MTW Trust<br />
for residents in Cranbrook<br />
and Sissinghurst is significant.<br />
I will continue to work with<br />
Miles, and his excellent teams<br />
in Pembury and Maidstone, to<br />
deliver the best health services<br />
possible for the people of<br />
Maidstone and <strong>The</strong> Weald.<br />
18 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> • <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2022</strong>