Friday, September 30, 2005
COMMUNICATION PROBLEM !
PCT = Primary Care Trust - or perhaps Phone Call Trouble?
After a phone-call from a local resident with a problem about local health services, John Beanse (Vice-President and 2005 General Election candidate of Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats) advised contacting Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust. He said he would phone back later with the number. Unable to locate it in any phone directory (Waltham Forest Phone Book, Yellow Pages, Thomson, etc), he contacted Directory Enquiries (118-500). After making the request for the PCT phone number, he took part in a rather surreal conversation:
- “There isn’t actually a Primary Care Trust in Waltham Forest”
- “Oh yes, there is!”
(John Beanse commented later: “As the last Chairman of the now sadly defunct Community Health Council, I really ought to know!”) It proved impossible to find a phone number and John Beanse was asked to hold the line to be put through to a Manager – who could not find any number either.
-----Eventually, the number was obtained by phoning a local Health Centre.
* For your information, the PCT number is 020 8928 2300.
He also acquired the number of the PCT Communications department and was assured there that the PCT number IS in Yellow Pages and the Thomson Directory.
John Beanse said “Up to now I have still not managed to find it in either – although it may be there somewhere!” The Communications dept. said they would follow up the matter.
One further comment: “The Waltham Forest Primary CareTrust has been up and running for a few years now. It really ought to be possible for members of the public to find the phone number without difficulties. Perhaps PCT should stand for Phone Call Trouble.”
Monday, September 26, 2005
Lib.Dem.Leader CHARLES KENNEDY MP (see report) had a challenging and upbeat message for the party conference in Blackpool.
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Saturday, September 24, 2005
CONFERENCE DIARY
LOCAL LIBERAL DEMOCRATS at BLACKPOOL
– example of just one day in the life of a Conference delegate!
[Blackpool, Tuesday, 20th.Sept., 2005]
Up early; breakfast at 7.30am
8.15am: Liberal Democrat Christian Forum
9am-11.20am Debates in the Conference Hall (disappointed not to be called in the debate on Post Offices )
11.20am Speech by Dr.Vince Cable MP
11.40am Break for refreshment with fellow delegate Geoff Seeff !
12-12.25pm Attended the debate in the Hall
13.00 Fringe Health meeting on “Making patient empowerment a reality”; spoke immediately after the guest speakers – referred to the abolition of Community Health Councils
Snack; then 14.45-18.00 in the Hall for a presentation by Scottish Lib.Dems. and the session on “Meeting the Challenge” where Geoff Seeff & I both spoke
18.30 Attended some of the Observer fringe meeting (then a meal), then a Fringe meeting at 8pm on “making poverty history”
[Blackpool, Tuesday, 20th.Sept., 2005]
Up early; breakfast at 7.30am
8.15am: Liberal Democrat Christian Forum
9am-11.20am Debates in the Conference Hall (disappointed not to be called in the debate on Post Offices )
11.20am Speech by Dr.Vince Cable MP
11.40am Break for refreshment with fellow delegate Geoff Seeff !
12-12.25pm Attended the debate in the Hall
13.00 Fringe Health meeting on “Making patient empowerment a reality”; spoke immediately after the guest speakers – referred to the abolition of Community Health Councils
Snack; then 14.45-18.00 in the Hall for a presentation by Scottish Lib.Dems. and the session on “Meeting the Challenge” where Geoff Seeff & I both spoke
18.30 Attended some of the Observer fringe meeting (then a meal), then a Fringe meeting at 8pm on “making poverty history”
John Beanse
SPEAKING UP AT PARTY CONFERENCE
LOCAL LIB.DEMS. IN BLACKPOOL
It's the Party annual conference season again and two Chingford and Woodford Green campaigners for the LibDems, Geoff Seeff, who stood as the parliamentary candidate in Romford at the General Election, and John Beanse, who stood in Chingford & Woodford Green in 2001 and in May this year, were in Blackpool at the party conference, making their presence felt.
One matter that exercised both Geoff and John was the establishment of a special commission to review LibDem tax policy. Whilst welcoming the review of policy, both Geoff & John felt very strongly that it was important to maintain a commitment to the principles of progressive taxation and a higher marginal tax rate.
Geoff said "It is a fallacy to think that the 50% tax rate on high incomes will act as a disincentive to professionals and entrepreneurs. Many people in this category of earners are proud to make their fair contribution to society whilst as for those who are ignorant or selfish, they need to be reminded that it is the social and physical infrastructure, paid for by society as a whole, that enables them to achieve their level of earnings. We have something very wrong in the UK today when a new graduate earning £20,000 per year trying to repay a student loan is in effect paying a marginal tax rate of over 60% when someone earning over £100,000 pays a marginal rate of 40%".
John Beanse emphasised that he had been proud to campaign earlier this year on the policy of a higher rate of tax for high earners - not just because of how the money could be put to good effect, but because it was a clear demonstration that - alone among the major parties - the Liberal Democrats were prepared to work in this way towards a fairer society.
** This contribution was reported in the TIMES the next day.
He also spoke in the debate on the way ahead for the party and expanded on the theme of needing a vision of a fairer society in British politics. This was not just about "fairness for ME" - we live in a society which is too often self-centred - it is about encouraging our citizens to take account of the needs of the less fortunate. He gave particular examples of how we need to give a better deal to elderly people.
SPEAKING UP AT CONFERENCEJohn Beanse (pictured) and Geoff Seeff (see above) have often been called to speak at LibDem conferences
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Friday, September 23, 2005
MEETING THE CHALLENGE
A MESSAGE TO THE LIB.DEM.CONFERENCE
from Liberal Democrat Leader CHARLES KENNEDY MP
"This year has been remarkable. We saw the most successful general election result in the Liberal tradition of British parliamentary politics in over 80 years. Over a million more votes compared with 2001, and despite the corrupt first-past-the-post voting system, 62 seats in the House of Commons.
Three-party politics is now firmly entrenched, with a narrower spread of votes between the three main parties than at any time since 1929.
We Liberal Democrats should be a force for radical thought in touch with today's needs and willing to look ahead to the demands of tomorrow."
Saturday, September 10, 2005
The REGAL, Highams Park is very close to a residential area. Local people are concerned about a recent application for late and sometimes all-night opening (see report).
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Thursday, September 08, 2005
THE REGAL SOCIAL CLUB
LOCAL RESIDENTS PROTEST ABOUT APPLICATION FOR
ALL-NIGHT OPENING HOURS
Longer hours were requested once before! In 1997 the applicant did not get his way. Local Liberal Democrats were very much involved in backing local residents then.THIS TIME, however, the application to extend licensing hours goes much further than what was requested and turned down in 1997.
The Regal Social Club has applied for later opening hours throughout the week until at least 1 or 2am, including till 3am on Thursdays and THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT to 6am on Fridays, Saturdays and key bank holidays.
Local residents are concerned that their peace may be disturbed by late night comings and goings, car doors slamming, engines starting up, etc. At worst, there are worries that these opening hours could lead to anti-social
behaviour.
As in 1997, local Lib.Dems. have sent in an objection, detailing these points and we have backed this up by collecting over 50 signatures in support of our campaign in the area closest to the Regal. Many local people are again up in arms and have collected their own petition of over 500 signatures in a wider area.
We shall have to wait to see the outcome when the matter is decided by the Licensing Panel in due course.
