Kent Medical Negligence Solicitors helping clients to get the treatment they need

Girlings Personal Injury Claims based in Canterbury have one of the largest specialist medical negligence departments in Kent. They have experience in dealing with all types of claim, from relatively low value claims to highly complex, multi-million pound claims. We spoke to Michelle Meakin, who is a Senior Associate Solicitor in the medical negligence department. We are members of Headway (who represent the interests of clients who have suffered a brain injury), and are included in their head injury solicitors’ directory. The head of our medical negligence department, Clare Milne, has been awarded membership of the Law Society’s clinical negligence accreditation scheme, acknowledging her proven competency and expertise in this area. We deal with all types of medical negligence claims, including amputations, birth injuries, brain injuries, cancer claims, surgical claims, spinal injury claims and orthopaedic claims (amongst many others). Ms Meakin said: “We are just one of very few firms in Kent who specialise in medical negligence. We deal with claims against hospitals, GPS and private doctors. Medical negligence occurs when a medical professional (such as a doctor, nurse or midwife) acts, or fails to act, in accordance with accepted medical practice. You might be entitled to claim compensation if, as a result of the negligent treatment, you have suffered a physical or psychological injury, or a worsening of a pre-existing injury (for example, cancer which progresses to a more advanced stage than would otherwise have been the case). We have access to a bank of highly skilled medical experts who help us to maximise our clients’ claims for compensation. We understand that our clients often need compensation to help them pay the mortgage if they have been left unable to work, or to fund care or vital treatment for their injuries. Where possible, we try to get an early admission of liability from the person who caused the injury, which enables us to ask their insurer for money up front. This money can help to fund anything from household expenses to care, equipment, therapy and other vital treatment. We are a sensitive and understanding team who fully appreciate that recovering from, or living with, a health problem can be extremely stressful. We do all that we can to ease the burden on our clients and to help them get their lives back on track. The importance of seeking advice from a solicitor specialising in this area cannot be underestimated. There are several firms who ‘dabble’ in this area of law, but it takes a specialist to achieve the full amount of compensation that a victim of medical negligence is entitled to.

Canterbury Dickens Fellowship This small, friendly club meets the second Monday of the month and invites anyone with an interest in Charles Dickens to come along. The following talks will be held at 7pm in St Dunstan’s Church Hall, Canterbury, where visitors will be made very welcome. January 14, A Tale of Two Desks. ‘Dickens the author, Dickens the reader.’ A talk by Malcolm Andrews. February 11, A very nice Pair of Blue Eyes. ‘Aspects of biography in David Copperfield’. A talk by Paul Graham. For more details contact Mr John Ingram 01227 472589; email: johnmaureeningram@gmail. com

Canterbury Photographic Society report Members of CPS entered almost 60 images into last Print competition before the Christmas break. ‘Abstract’ was the set subject and the second half of the competition was an open section. Camera club judge Kevin Harvey is well known for his amazing 3D images that play tricks on the eye. He found the variety of Abstract images quite a challenge. Some were an array of brightly coloured patterns while others were more subtle. A good guess was made at how some of the images had started life or had been edited to create an abstract look. The overall winner was Sarah Vinall’s Abstract leaf image titled ‘Funky Foliage. Kevin also awarded a number of Highly commended certificates. Phil Grosvenor achieved two certificates for ‘Dinner Time’ and ‘Echoes of Mondrian,’ John Davies for ‘Flamboyant,’ Wendy Kennett for ‘Pep Ventosa Slant on Faversham Market Place’ and Lyn Gregory for ‘Jelly-vision’. Festive refreshments of sausage rolls and Christmas cake were enjoyed during the break and then Kevin was given the task of judging the Open section which proved a little more relaxing on the eye. Steve Presnell was the winner with his winter woodland Monochrome image titled ‘Leaving.’ Highly commended certificates were awarded to George Aldridge for ‘Chapter House York Cathedral’, Lyn Gregory for ‘Awakening Winter’ and Bill Grinney for ‘On the Prowl’. Members return to a new season January 9. Chairman Dave Cornelius circulated an image for members to edit it in the most creative way possible. He will critique the images and select a winner for the ‘Creative Challenge Trophy’. New term begins January 9 2019 if any new members would like to join. Please visit our website www. canterburyphotographicsociety. com or phone Wendy Kennett 07450 519182.

Ladies Probus Circle Ladies’ Probus Circle meet on the second Thursday of the month at The Kent and Canterbury Club, Old Dover Road, Canterbury. Our next meeting will be Thursday January 10, 10.30am for coffee when our speaker will be Peter Colmer. Peter will tell us about the life of Kenneth Williams. A warm welcome awaits any ladies with a little time on their hands. Subscription is £10 for the year and £1 per meeting. Contact Audrey Bigley 01227 788068 for more information.

National Trust East Kent Association Members and visitors to NTEKA have enjoyed two excellent winter lectures on the History of Hops in Kent and The Swing Riots as well as a festive Christmas lunch. Our lectures are usually on the first Wednesday in the month but our January lecture will be January 9, when we will welcome back Professor Andrew Lambert to tell us of ‘Recovering Robinson Crusoe’. In December 2010 our speaker joined a German documentary/academic expedition to Robinson Crusoe Island, one of the Juan Fernandez Islands, 400 miles west of the coast of Chile. The expedition focused on the relationship between the fictional character of Crusoe and the story of Scots sailor Alexander Selkirk, who was marooned on the island for four years in the early eighteenth century. This lecture will be at 2.30pm, Wednesday January 9, St. Andrew’s United Reform Church Hall, Watling Street, Canterbury CT1 2UA. Parking at Watling Street or Multi-storey car parks. Admission to members £3.50, admission to visitors £4.50. Enquiries about membership to Sue Akhurst 01795 530151.

Potterers Cycling Club Meet us for a lunchtime drink. This is not an organised cycle ride. We make our way to the pub individually. We have “Meets” Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12.30PM. Wednesday January 9, The Chequers, Doddington; Thursday January 10, The Rose, Wickhambreaux. For complete list see: www.potterers.co.uk

Rough Common and Harbledown Gardeners’ Association The chairman, David Pilcher, opened the December meeting of the Rough Common and Harbledown Gardeners’ Association by asking members to stand in silence for one minute to remember Jean Ayers a long standing member who had died recently. Jean had been a loyal member whose beautiful flower arrangements in the shows were always admired. Ann Richards, the treasurer, has been ill with pneumonia for some time and Sandy Stokes suggested that a collection from members could buy her a gift from the club wishing her a speedy recovery, this was agreed. The President, Chris Anderson, took the chair for the AGM and gave a positive report thanking the past committee members for their work throughout the year. Membership numbers had been maintained. He thanked Tim and Ann Richards for hosting a money raising garden event and the show judges Alice Sladden and Maureen Yarwood. A Christmas tree will once again be decorated for St Michaels church but Veronica and David Pilcher will take over as the organisers. The programme of events by Ann and Alan Chadwick had been interesting and entertaining. The treasurer’s report was circulated and a decision was made by the committee to recommend a rise in the monthly meeting charge to £3 but keep the annual subscription at £7.50, this was agreed. The raffle organised by Ann and Alan Overy continued to raise money for the club. The monthly competitions were overseen by Sandy Stokes, the annual show went well organised by Liz Anderson with help from Rita Antill. Jean Byers was thanked for her monthly 10 garden tips and for her posters and reports in the press and Parish magazine. Pat Dabson was retiring after many years as secretary and David Pilcher after two years as Chairman, both were presented with a gift of thanks. Officers for 2019 were elected as follows: Chairman Jean Byers; Vice chairman Colin Overy; Secretary Sandy Stokes; Treasurer Ann St Stephen’s WI The ladies of St Stephen’s WI have been very busy during the past few months. They have enjoyed an 80’s evening when members sort out their old ‘glad rags’ and wore them to the meeting. They have enjoyed a talk by Margaret Ovenden, a virgir at Canterbury Cathedral who spoke about her life ‘From Catwalk to Quire’. Avril Austin from Stour Valley Flower Arrangers showed and helped members make a Christmas Table Decoration and this month the ladies enjoyed a Christmas Party with accompanying sketches, games and party food. The Walking Group have ventured far and wide, having recently walked in the following areas, Alkham, Mersham and Faversham. The reading groups continue to thrive with the Pop Up Book Group meeting in the Old Beverlie PH proving to be quite popular. The Craft Group showed their skills at the recent St Stephen’s Craft Fair while another group of ladies are learning to crochet. One member produced several hundred poppies for the Poppy Cascade at The Westgate Tower. The Film Club continue to meet once a month to enjoy a new film, together with the obligatory ice cream. Several members have been to the Gulbenkian Theatre this year as well as to The Marlowe. If you would like to join us then please contact Julie Board 01227 453158 for further details or just come for a visit at 7.30pm on the 3rd Monday of the month.

Whitstable Shipping News For the first time since 2014 the harbour had a freighter at the quayside throughout Christmas. Four years ago it was the Pluto, but this time it was Whitstable’s latest adopted ship Neptune. The Faversham-registered cargo ship had arrived the Saturday before Christmas with a shipment of stone from Granville in France. Neptune (1512 GT) enjoyed a five day stay at Whitstable before sailing light for Ipswich on Thursday afternoon. C.T. Richards; Programme organisers Ann & Alan Chadwick; Show secretary Liz Anderson; Monthly competitions Faye Mctavish; Raffle Ann & Colin Overy; Committee members Jean Bradshaw & Rita Antill. Trophies for winners of the monthly competitions were Flower of the month: Gill Smith; Frank Holmes made at home item, David Pilcher; Potted plant Faye Mctavish. The meeting closed with an excellent members’ Christmas supper provided by the past committee. There is no meeting in January 2019, the next meeting is February 7 in Rough Common Village hall, 7.30pm when Jo Arnell will talk about “Unusual and Attractive vegetables”. More details from the secretary Sandy Stoke 766689.