Accrington Victoria Walk In Centre: Latest letter from CCG

Latest DCMS response to the survival of local radio

Digital Radio may offer a clearer future, literally. However the spectrum is small and many local radio stations will be forced to remain on FM.

In Hyndburn we have 2BR, 107 the Bee, Accrington Asian radio (which broadcasts 1 month every year) and Rossendale Radio which is in the process of re-establishing itself.

Remaining on FM is seen as being disadvantageous. Partly quality, partly because some radios are DAB only, partly because people will see FM as a poorer source with poorer choice as the high profile stations broadcast from DAB.

I have had a five cornered response on this issue. From DCMS, my office, pro and anti DAB campaigners and our own local radio stations which I have blogged about previously.

This is the latest response from the DCMS on the issue.

A and E in East Lancashire unsatisfactory according to patients.

The latest Friends and Family Test feedback (October) for East Lancashire Hospitals Trust show that for accident and emergency out of 142 hospitals, it ranked a lowly 132nd.

Anyone with any experience could tell you that there is a significant problem. I have previously written about my efforts to resolve with the Lancashire Ambulance Trust the chaos of ambulance's parked up awaiting bed space at A and E last winter. Some progress has been made.

I have sat in A and E with my young daughter and experienced how hard the staff in triage work but how over overwhelmed they are. I went to have a simple blood test for a cold having been to a malaria infected country. An important test given death comes quickly. Tropical diseases seem to be a non-priority so overstretched at A&E the staff are.

More recently we have seen the colossal numbers, some 36,000 using the GP walk in centre at Accrington. Should it close an estimated 11,000 will go to A and E instead at Royal Blackburn.

Add to that the cuts the government promised wouldn't happen. The costly NHS reorganisation. This month we have learned the scale of the redistributive cuts taking money from the NHS in deprived areas and giving it to the wealthy areas. This week the Mark Brearley, chief executive of East Lancashire’s troubled hospital trust has quit following a barrage of criticism from campaigners and NHS inspectors.

It's no wonder the public have no faith in the service. It's not the staff but government cuts, issues with the management and the scale of deprivation in East Lancashire.

Massive NHS cuts in East Lancashire to fund the NHS in other areas

The government has decided that deprivation figures should be replaced by average age (the older the average to more money) in calculating NHS funding in the future. See letter below.

This essentially switches funding from deprived areas with greater need to affluent areas like Bournemouth, Hertfordshire and Surrey where people are wealthy enough to live to a ripe old age.

- David Cameron promised no more top down reorganisation but implemented the biggest top down reorganisation the NHS has seen privatising services.

- He promised no cuts but the £3billion reorganisation and deep cuts to Social Services have meant the NHS is once again in crises under a Tory led government.

- His promise of no NHS cuts is a betrayal to NHS workers and constituents.

These latest redistributive cuts will see £millions taken out of East Lancashire and will have a dramatic impact on the level and quality of health services particularly following the Keogh Report. Cuts such as the closure of the Accrington Walk in Centre.

It's a cliche but so true - you can't trust the Tories on the NHS. Cameron has broken so many promises that adorned Tory billboards at the last election.

Dan Jarvis on Labour's commitment to WW1 commemorations

 

My week in Parliament

My week in Parliament - (2nd-5th DECEMBER 2013)

Summary of this week in Parliament:
• Chancellor's Autumn Statement
• Government statement on energy prices
• Urgent Question on the Government's National Infrastructure Plan
• Government statement on the Glasgow helicopter crash
• Mesothelioma Bill, Second Reading
• Government statement on international (PISA) educational performance tables
• Energy Bill, Lords amendments
• Vote on Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs

Chancellor's Autumn Statement
On Thursday the Chancellor delivered his Autumn Statement in the House of Commons.

The Chancellor outlined a number of measures, but confirmed that weak economic growth will mean that he cannot eradicate the deficit by 2015 as planned – instead claiming he will do this four years later in 2019.

Letter to Lancashire MPs over NHS changes in Lancashire that will see £miillions cut

Letter to Jeremy Hunt in response to the huge new cuts to the NHS in Lancashire

The Government is currently consulting on one aspect of the funding formula for local NHS provision, a change which I believe would be in the short and long term detriment to people in East Lancashire.

Jeremy Hunt wants to make a change which would result in a redistribution of money away from poorer areas with lower life expectancies (such as Hyndburn) towards (generally wealthier, southern) areas with higher life expectancies. The Government’s thinking is that older people need more NHS money, which taken at face value makes sense. However, in practice that means taking money away from people who have lower life expectancies, rewarding healthier people with better health provision.

Ignoring health inequality and favouring age will put further strain on the budget of the NHS in East Lancashire, the result of which would be less in the way of services.

When is a cut not a cut? When it is a redistribution from poorer areas of health need to areas where people live longer.