Third time lucky for patient Claire
It proved third time lucky for a woman whose operation was cancelled twice by the NHS while it dealt with large numbers of emergency cases.
Claire Hobden, pictured, hit out at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust when she was told her elbow surgery was not going ahead for a second time.
The 45-year-old, who runs a dog grooming business, had been booked in on February 1 and 23. But as both dates approached she was told a lack of beds and consultants covering other cases meant she could not be treated.
But last week, Mrs Hobden, of Willington Street, Maidstone, had the procedure to correct tendon damage. She posted on Twitter: “Excellent care by MTW short stay unit.”
MTW said the levels of people needing emergency care and longer hospital stays was “unprecedented” and a spokesman apologised to those who had planned surgery cancelled. A young reveller walked through a popular Maidstone nightspot brandishing a kitchen knife before hurling it into the street, a court heard.
John Mashatte pointed the blade at a doorman at MuMu bar and restaurant after he was challenged for being in a restricted area, during a night out. The 22-year-old, who is from Brixton, south London, but had been staying in Rochester, was followed into the kitchens by security worker Dwayne Spencer who asked him to leave. Andrew Jones, prosecuting, told Maidstone Magistrates’ Court how Mashatte swiped the knife and brandished it as he made his way upstairs to a separate part of the restaurant. There he was confronted by another doorman, Sean Swart.
Mashatte pointed the weapon at Mr Swart and told him to move out of the way, before leaving the venue and throwing the knife to the floor as he walked away, down Week Street. He was heard to say: “See what happens if you touch me?”
But shortly afterwards he returned to the nightspot, where he was arrested.
It happened at around 3.45am on a Sunday morning in October.
Peter Hamill , defending, said Mashatte had been drinking and was confused as to why he had gone into the kitchen.
When he was challenged he had panicked, the court heard, and picked up the knife because he thought he was being touched.
Mr Hamill said: “Fortunately no one was hurt and while it would be worrying to see a young man with a knife, his actions were limited to raising it at one point. He did the right thing and got rid of it straight away. He came back to the restaurant not to cause trouble but to continue his evening, which shows the level of his confusion.”
Mashatte pleased guilty to affray, and having a knife in a public place.
The court heard he had a long record, with 19 previous convictions including assault and drugs charges, but had never been involved with knife crime before. The case was sent to crown court for sentencing.