Kent Tonight - Thursday 26th October 2023
Catch up on the latest news from across the county with Sofia Akin.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:24 Hello there and welcome to Ken Tonight live here on KMTV.
00:29 I'm Gabriel Morris and here are your top stories on Thursday the 26th of October.
00:34 Under pressure, Kent student with health concerns complains about NHS waiting lists which have hit a record high.
00:41 Having the correct advice is something that I should get but obviously I've been avoiding it just because of the waiting times.
00:48 It's madness, Kent MPs calling on Rail Minister to push for Eurostar return.
00:53 But I know that my constituents and many others around Kent and the wider South East would appreciate knowing that central government is on their side.
01:03 And for regenerations, thousands across Kent and the South East look back on their Windrush experience 75 years on.
01:10 You're walking on the road, you hear people shouting at you, come back you sort of, one of those names.
01:17 [Music]
01:27 Well first tonight a Kent student says despite chronic stomach issues they've faced for the past two years,
01:33 they're reluctant to visit the doctors due to long waiting times.
01:37 This comes as NHS waiting lists have hit a record high as almost 7.8 million people are on hold for treatment.
01:44 Meanwhile doctors fear that with winter approaching, reducing the waiting times will be a big challenge
01:49 and warn the waiting lists could continue on for several years.
01:52 Mehima Abedin has more.
01:54 While some university students spend their time making memories and having fun,
01:59 this student has been worried about his health since his first year of university in Kent.
02:04 Almost 9,000 people were waiting more than 18 months for routine treatment at the end of August
02:10 and according to NHS England, waiting times have hit a record high since 2007.
02:15 The fear of a long wait has resulted in Abed avoiding making a visit to the doctors for two years.
02:21 Symptoms I've been experiencing, it's like, it's just like irritation in my stomach that I've been experiencing a lot.
02:28 So my dad's got recently diagnosed, not recently, he's had ulcerative colitis since 2017
02:34 and it's like foods that we eat can irritate the stomach and it's like, it affects me day to day
02:40 because I'm unaware of what's good for me and what's bad for me to eat.
02:44 So it's all about, like it's literally all about dieting but having the correct advice is something that I should get
02:51 but obviously I've been avoiding it just because of the waiting times.
02:53 If you go to A&E you're waiting in there for a good four to five hours, you're literally wasting your whole day just sitting there doing nothing
02:59 and then calling the GP, I tried asking them for an emergency appointment, they said my doctor's not available at this time
03:05 like even though it's a priority and it should be considered as an emergency.
03:09 While the government blames the ongoing doctor strikes as playing a significant role in contributing to the delays that patients are experiencing, doctors disagree.
03:18 I have to say that it's a convenient excuse for them because if you actually look at it, the waiting list started to build a decade ago
03:27 and really the industrial action has had a small effect but compared with the big rise prior to it, it's a very small factor.
03:36 The winter is a difficult time for the NHS so it's a bigger challenge to actually maintain the waiting list
03:41 and an even bigger challenge to actually reduce it during the winter.
03:45 Unless investment is put into the NHS, I think we're stuck with long waiting lists for several years.
03:50 In response, a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said, "Cutting waiting lists is one of the government's top priorities
03:57 and 18-month waits have fallen by more than 90% since September 2021."
04:02 It says it's exceeded its target to deliver 10,000 virtual beds by winter and is investing an extra £200 million to support the NHS during winter.
04:12 But for now, doctors urge patients to continue to seek care if they are experiencing health concerns.
04:18 Mahima Abedin for KMTV.
04:20 In other Kent news, motorists travelling to London on the M2 today have been severely delayed as part of the motorway has remained shut
04:29 following a lorry fire near Medway.
04:31 These dramatic pictures show the scene on Wednesday evening.
04:35 The incident happened on the motorway at Junction 2 near Rochester.
04:38 Today, motorists have been caught in queues of many miles with congestion going back over the Medway fire duct.
04:44 One carriageway will remain shut this evening with a diversion in place as resurfacing works are carried out.
04:50 As always, traffic updates are available by listening to KMFM or by reading Kent online.
04:56 Sevenoaks District Council has announced its housing plans for the next 15 years, which would include thousands of potential homes on greenbelt land.
05:05 Sevenoaks District Council is currently redoing its local plan as its previous one was rejected in 2020 for not meeting housing targets.
05:13 Sevenoaks District has 93% designated greenbelt land where stricter planning rules apply, making it harder to build.
05:20 The council says the plan will help to deliver much needed new homes, whilst promoting health, wellbeing and protecting the environment.
05:28 The Ashford MP has brought up the issue to Parliament today of Eurostar services not stopping in Kent.
05:35 Damien Green says now the international service is making cash again.
05:39 There is no excuse and they could stop in Kent once more.
05:42 It comes as Kent County Council has just launched a new questionnaire looking at the impacts the suspension is having on businesses.
05:49 Ashford and Ebbsfleet are Kent's two international stations.
05:54 The problem is the stations only serve domestic rail routes.
05:59 The local economy of these two stations has been centred around the Eurostar services for the past couple of decades.
06:06 But ever since the pandemic, the continent-bound services have been suspended.
06:11 The issue was brought to Parliament last night.
06:14 It is frankly madness that we have international stations at Ebbsfleet and Ashford that cannot travel internationally.
06:22 So therefore would my honourable friend the Minister do all he can through his department to ensure that we have international services restored at both Ashford and Ebbsfleet in my constituency.
06:35 Eurostar says their Kent stations will remain closed throughout 2023 and 2024 and they will provide an update should anything change regarding this.
06:45 Unlike domestic train services, Eurostar is a private company with a majority ownership.
06:51 They were badly hit by the pandemic but Kent MPs are now arguing that they are making cash again and are calling on the Rail Minister to encourage the company to bring services back to Kent.
07:03 In 2016, Eurostar introduced new rolling stock.
07:07 That rolling stock demanded a whole new signalling system at Ashford station to allow the new trains to stop there.
07:15 And that was funded at a cost of £8.5 million through the local growth fund.
07:21 In other words, this was the UK taxpayer spending specifically so that Eurostar could continue to service Ashford.
07:29 So far, the return on that for the taxpayer has been exactly zero.
07:35 Since becoming the Rail Minister, I've raised this personally with Eurostar, making it absolutely clear that I'm keen to see these services return as soon as it's possible and when it's commercially viable for the company to do so.
07:49 And I agree with my right honourable friend, there are some very good arguments as to why that commercial rationale exists right now.
07:56 Eurostar's message has remained the same.
08:00 But last night's debate adds to the growing call for the international service to return.
08:05 35,000 people have signed a petition and Kent County Council are currently in the middle of a survey to find out the economic impact of the suspension.
08:15 Gaben Morris for KNTV.
08:17 Well, we'd like to hear your thoughts on that.
08:20 Get in touch with us at KNTV on your social timelines.
08:23 Now, it's been a full three weeks since Gillingham FC sacked manager Neil Harris, but with the expectation from some fans that a new boss would have now been appointed.
08:32 Interim manager Keith Minnan says that staying in charge for another week allows him to plan ahead with the players.
08:38 It comes as interim boss has won two out of his four games at the helm.
08:42 Well, with a look ahead of this week's clash with Newport County, here's my funny me haul.
08:48 [Music]
08:56 Well, three weeks without a manager. Now, I'm sure some fans would be expecting an announcement by now.
09:02 Yeah, I mean, it seems as these sort of three weeks have gone on, we've been coming into a bit of a cycle.
09:07 We go into the fixtures, we ask Keith Minnan, this could be your final game.
09:10 How are you feeling? And really, that hasn't changed.
09:13 It hasn't changed this weekend either. Up against Newport County, it could be Keith Minnan's final game.
09:18 And the only person who can change that is Brad Gallant, and he's the chairman of Gillingham FC.
09:22 We've heard from him over the past three weeks.
09:25 And part of that is because he's been updating fans on social media about how the search is going.
09:30 Haven't heard from him this week so far, and that's because he has been very busy.
09:34 He's been here in the county interviewing those potential candidates who we heard from him was more than 20 at the beginning of last week.
09:42 Now, Keith Minnan has said today that he is preparing for the Hereford game, not the Newport County game this weekend.
09:50 It's actually the FA Cup game on the following Saturday. And we can hear from him now.
09:55 I'm in charge for Saturday. I've been told that. And I've also planned for next week.
10:03 Now, if it changes before the Hereford game, it changes. But I did say, is that it Saturday?
10:11 Or is there a chance, if you like? And they said, yes, definitely prepare for Hereford.
10:18 So the Gilles are facing Newport County this week. Can they make it two wins in a row?
10:22 Yeah, absolutely. Following the week, the midweek game against Swindon Town, of course, the fan rival favourite that goes back many decades, that rivalry.
10:30 That win is going to really give the team a boost going into this weekend.
10:34 As well, looking at where Newport County are on the table at the moment in League Two, currently sitting 19th compared to a Gilles seventh.
10:41 They're off the back of six defeats in 10 games.
10:45 Let's take a listen to Keith Minnan as he previews that game alongside Ethan Coleman.
10:50 We've got to continue that feel good factor. And I think it's important how we start the game.
10:57 They're under a little bit of pressure because they've not had the results maybe they wanted.
11:01 So I don't know what to expect from them really, but it would be down to us as the home team to really set the tone.
11:08 And I think if we do that, our fans will create a good atmosphere and hopefully we can go on and win the game.
11:15 We've got to treat them with the same respect as we treat any other opponent.
11:20 Yeah, they beat us last year, last time home game in the season it was last year.
11:26 So yeah, they've got some good players and we do this, treat the game exactly the same as we would for any other opponent.
11:33 One more update from the Gilles. You remember that misconduct charge that was given to Keith Minnan last week after his red card for allegedly tripping a Walsall player.
11:42 No updates so far on that.
11:44 Well, I'll keep following that. Thank you for bringing us those details.
11:47 We'll be back after this short break with more news made just for Kent.
11:51 [MUSIC]
12:01 [BLANK_AUDIO]
12:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]
12:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]
12:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
12:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]
12:51 [BLANK_AUDIO]
13:01 [BLANK_AUDIO]
13:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]
13:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]
13:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
13:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]
13:51 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:01 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:11 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:21 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:31 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:51 [BLANK_AUDIO]
15:01 [MUSIC]
15:13 Hello and welcome back to Kentonite Live here on KMTV.
15:16 In honour of Black History Month, many in Kent and the South East have come together to talk about their memories.
15:23 This comes after 75 years since the Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury as thousands were asked to come over by the British government to help rebuild the country after World War II.
15:33 The reporter Naomi took a look back into her own family to hear her family's stories and a warning, some of the conversations may be upsetting to some viewers.
15:42 Over 70 years on, in the heart of Kent, compassion and commitment unfolds as many charities join hands to celebrate and uplift the spirit of Black History Month.
15:54 Many come together to remember their homes, cultures and where they originated from.
15:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
16:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
16:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
16:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
16:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
16:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
16:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
17:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
17:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
17:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
17:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
17:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
17:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
18:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
18:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
18:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
18:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
18:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
18:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
19:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
19:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
19:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
19:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
19:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
19:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
20:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
20:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
20:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
20:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
20:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
20:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
21:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
21:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
21:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
21:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
21:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
21:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
22:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
22:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
22:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
22:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
22:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
22:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
23:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
23:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
23:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
23:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
23:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
23:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
24:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
24:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
24:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
24:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
24:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
24:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
25:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
25:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
25:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
25:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
25:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
25:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]
26:09 [BLANK_AUDIO]
26:19 [BLANK_AUDIO]
26:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]
26:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
26:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]
26:59 [BLANK_AUDIO]