Delayed Transfers of Care in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells

Later this afternoon, I travelled to Portcullis House at Westminster, for a meeting with Greg Clark and Sir John Stanley, Members of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling respectively.

The meeting had been called to discuss the issue of Delayed Transfers of Care (bed blocking, or DToCs as they're often referred to) from hospitals in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

Although punctuated by the division bell calling all Members to the Lobby to vote, it was a productive meeting, and I was able to explain some of the successes of our joint working with both the Primary Care and the Acute Trusts, and some of the outstanding issues which need to be addressed.

Above all, it was great to see our local MPs taking such a keen interest in this issue, which is one of the most critical aspects of the Government's "Our Health, Our Care, Our Say" White Paper last year. If we can't get the joint working right, none of the aspirations can possibly be delivered.