Page 2 - Community Health mag issue 2

PAGE 2 www.kentcht.nhs.uk

INSIDE
4
Meet the innovators:
A few examples of how we are
improving care
5 –

News: A round-up of the latest community news
10 –13

Making Great Strides: How our podiatry service is
getting people back on their feet
14

It’s all in the mind: How our psychologists help families
and get to the bottom of their anger
15

The power of water: Ever thought about hydrotherapy?
Meet the people it’s helping
16

–17 Lining up to see the n

urse: The difference our school
nursing teams make
18 –19 Rapid

Response: The teams that respond to
you at home whatever the weather
20 –21

Talk to us:

Have a say in the future of NHS services
22

Hi-de-hi: How singing can help your health
23 –25 Looking back:

How we shaped up last year
26

To the rescue: Lesley Strong on how we are
working hard to reduce pressure on A&E
27

Contacts: Your cut-out-and-keep guide to
some of our services

welcome

If you would like this magazine
in audio, large print or a different
format please ring Emma Heard
on 01622 211940.

Editor in chief
Natalie Yost
01622 211943
Editor
Julia Rogers
01622 211946
Design
Julie Bignell
Contributors
Fay Sinclair, Chloe Washbrook,
Jo Treharne, Lewis King.
Kent Community Health NHS Trust
The Oast
Hermitage Court
Hermitage Lane
Barming
Maidstone Kent ME16 9NT
www.kentcht.nhs.uk
Find us on Facebook
/KentCommunityHealth
Follow us on Twitter
@NHSKent

CHT

Page 13
Page 16

H

ow hard is it to master knitting? I couldn’t help but be intrigued by our new knitting
groups that are helping people to manage their pain (page 9).
Nearly five years ago, I was hit by a drunk driver on my way home from work and I now
suffer chronic back pain.
It wasn’t until my GP referred me to KCHT’s chronic pain service last year, that I realised what a
huge range of services we provide to help you. First off, the lovely Deborah Jardine-Barnes,
Advanced Chronic Pain Nurse, (who was the first person to really explain why I was still in pain)
assessed me, recommended a change to my medication to reduce the drowsy side-effects and then
sent me to see acupuncturist Dianne Stewart who’s managed to reduce my levels of pain. I am j ust
about to try The Alexander Technique with Claudia (find out how I get on in the October edition) to
see if I can be helped further, as well as attend one of KCHT’s chronic pain education mornings.
Being in pain is tiring and, let’s be honest, depressing but there are people who can help you. I n
this edition, you can read about the Escape programme (page 4) which is helping people with knee
pain, how therapeutic hydrotherapy can be (page 15) and even how surgery in the community for a
painful bunion is helping landlady Christine Watson get back behind the bar (pages 10
We hope you enjoy our second edition. We always look forward to your feedback, so please get
in touch and don’t forget to sign up to become a member of our Trust by filling out the application
in the centre pages.
Best wishes Julia
Editor
Email juliarogers1@nhs.net

On our cover:
Team Sister Rachel Taberham and Senior
Staff Nurse Nike Olaitan-Badermosi from
Dartford Rapid Response. Page 8

CH_July_2013_v6 FINAL.indd 2 01/07/2013 16:20:57