NEWS
LAWSON HOUSE RESIDENTS UNVEIL MEMORIAL IN VETERANS GARDEN
Residents of Lawson House Extra Care Housing Scheme in Larkfield , Aylesford have celebrated the unveiling of their new memorial in the veterans ’ garden .
With twenty of the apartments at the scheme retained exclusively for housing veterans , residents and staff decided that they wanted to create a fitting tribute for those who have lived there , live there now and will do so in the future , in creating a memorial for the veterans ’ garden . The idea was commissioned shortly after the scheme opened and after many brainstorms and shared ideas , a design was agreed and stonemason , Darren Emptage , was appointed to manufacture and install the veterans ’ memorial .
Overjoyed with the completed memorial , the residents now have a focal point where they can sit and reflect , as well as a spot to hold future remembrance services and events . To celebrate the completion of the memorial , the residents , many of whom served during
WW2 and still hold their memories of D-Day , invited friends of the scheme to join them in a special unveiling event . In addition to the usual speeches and refreshments , a vicar blessed the monument and a lone bugler called the ever-evocative Last Post , inviting residents and guests to join a two minutes silence , reflecting on their own memories and those of loved ones lost .
KIMS HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES NEW INVESTOR
KIMS Hospital , the largest independent hospital in Kent , has announced that LycaHealth , which already has state-of-the-art health clinics in Canary Wharf and Orpington , has become its majority shareholder , supporting the growing demand for fast access to diagnostics and treatment .
The investment comes seven years after KIMS Hospital opened its doors to patients in Maidstone and follows the acquisition of Sevenoaks Medical Centre by KIMS Hospital in 2020 .
With LycaHealth ’ s investment and access to its health clinics , it will now be possible for KIMS to increase patient choice and offer faster access to diagnostics and medical experts close to where people live and work . This then gives them a direct patient pathway into KIMS Hospital if further treatment is required .
Commenting on the investment , Simon James , CEO of KIMS Hospital said : “ I ’ m delighted that LycaHealth is investing in KIMS Hospital and our Medical Centre in Sevenoaks . LycaHealth ’ s investment comes at a time when demand for healthcare , both NHS and private , continues to grow . With the support and backing of LycaHealth , we have an excellent opportunity to build on our success to date . As the largest independent hospital in Kent , we play a critical role supporting the local community , both as a provider of outstanding healthcare and as a local employer , with over 400 employees . In partnership with LycaHealth , we have a fantastic opportunity to expand our healthcare provision across Kent , meeting the needs of local people .”
PILGRIMS HOSPICES ANNOUNCED AS FIRST CHARITY TO ACCEPT THE CHARITY SHOP GIFT CARD
Pilgrims Hospices , which cares for terminally ill patients across Kent , has become the first charity in the country to accept a new multi-retailer gift card that can be used exclusively in charity shops .
The Charity Shop Gift Card , backed by the Charity Retail Association ( CRA ), will be sold and accepted in Pilgrims Hospices ’ 30 shops , to help raise money to support over 200 Pilgrims nurses and therapists who provide care to thousands of people in east Kent .
Tim Stewart , retail and business development manager for Pilgrims Hospices , said : “ Pilgrims Hospices are delighted to join the scheme right at the very beginning . We truly believe that The Charity Shop Gift Card will help generate much needed funds for the hospice and help introduce new people to charity shopping .”
Pre-loaded cards can be purchased now in all Pilgrims Hospices shops , online and as e-vouchers at www . thecharityshopgiftcard . co . uk , and will be available in supermarkets and other major retailers in 2022 .
207