Saturday, December 30, 2006
NHS battle goes on
Some points at the turn of the year about the NHS campaign from Cllr. John Beanse who is Vice-Chair of Health Scrutiny in Waltham Forest:
"As people up and down the country fight to “save our NHS”, protesting about damaging cut-backs, such as the prospect or reality of closure of wards, whole departments or even hospitals in some places, we would do well to question with determination the current buzz-words of “reconfiguration” , “Fit for the Future” and "more care in the community" which so suspiciously and “conveniently” from a Government standpoint coincide with the current crisis. Trusts up and down the country are enabled to cite clinical justifications for their actions: for instance the supposed desirability of fewer people being sent to A & E; fewer GP referrals to hospitals; and pushing people in and out of hospital quicker. There are indeed arguments to support such strategies in many individual cases, but there are also clinical risks attached which are receiving little or no attention. For example, there are dangers if someone is not referred swiftly enough to hospital; and for patients to be returned home in a shorter span than previously there has to be in place a much improved infrastructure in the community (whereas the reality is that in this area, there are in fact cutbacks in community services). It is also vital that after an individual’s stay in hospital we do not place an impossible burden on carers or have people living on their own in a vulnerable position without adequate help. Also, we absolutely must retain adequate capacity in our hospitals to cope with every eventuality. The attitude of the Trusts seems to be too often that they know best and will pay attention to the voice of the public only when it suits them.
These issues require urgent and expert analysis and the voices of doctors, clinicians, nurses, etc must be listened to. Meanwhile it is vital that we keep up the fight for our NHS.
Let's carry on campaigning for our local health services in 2007!"
"As people up and down the country fight to “save our NHS”, protesting about damaging cut-backs, such as the prospect or reality of closure of wards, whole departments or even hospitals in some places, we would do well to question with determination the current buzz-words of “reconfiguration” , “Fit for the Future” and "more care in the community" which so suspiciously and “conveniently” from a Government standpoint coincide with the current crisis. Trusts up and down the country are enabled to cite clinical justifications for their actions: for instance the supposed desirability of fewer people being sent to A & E; fewer GP referrals to hospitals; and pushing people in and out of hospital quicker. There are indeed arguments to support such strategies in many individual cases, but there are also clinical risks attached which are receiving little or no attention. For example, there are dangers if someone is not referred swiftly enough to hospital; and for patients to be returned home in a shorter span than previously there has to be in place a much improved infrastructure in the community (whereas the reality is that in this area, there are in fact cutbacks in community services). It is also vital that after an individual’s stay in hospital we do not place an impossible burden on carers or have people living on their own in a vulnerable position without adequate help. Also, we absolutely must retain adequate capacity in our hospitals to cope with every eventuality. The attitude of the Trusts seems to be too often that they know best and will pay attention to the voice of the public only when it suits them.
These issues require urgent and expert analysis and the voices of doctors, clinicians, nurses, etc must be listened to. Meanwhile it is vital that we keep up the fight for our NHS.
Let's carry on campaigning for our local health services in 2007!"
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Public backs voting reform
The public is strongly in favour of getting rid of the current way of electing MPs and replacing it with a more representative system, a poll conducted by ICM for the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust shows. Of those questioned, five support reform for every one opposed.
ICM asked people to say if they agreed or disagreed with the following proposal: This country should adopt a new voting system that would give parties seats in parliament in proportion to their share of the votes - 60% agreed and 12% disagreed.
On the proposal that: Elections for local authorities should use a new voting system that would give parties seats on local councils in proportion to their share of the vote - 62% agreed and 10% disagreed.
On the proposal that: A referendum should be held on changing the system we use to elect MPs - 56% agreed and 13% disagreed. [Over 2000 people were questioned]
Commenting on the ICM poll results, Cllr.John Beanse, Chair of Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats said:
"People want a fairer system of voting. They want a Parliament AND a local council which accurately reflect the balance of public opinion. We need more voter choice and a system which means that votes really count.
It is time to drag our flawed democracy, kicking and screaming if necessary, into the 21st.century. Let us hope that in 2007 both so-called "New" Labour and the self-styled, supposedly modernising Conservatives will wake up to the longstanding call of the Liberal Democrats - AND of the British prople - on this vital matter.
It is high time that we had a democracy of which we can all be proud and which at last fairly represents the British people."
ICM asked people to say if they agreed or disagreed with the following proposal: This country should adopt a new voting system that would give parties seats in parliament in proportion to their share of the votes - 60% agreed and 12% disagreed.
On the proposal that: Elections for local authorities should use a new voting system that would give parties seats on local councils in proportion to their share of the vote - 62% agreed and 10% disagreed.
On the proposal that: A referendum should be held on changing the system we use to elect MPs - 56% agreed and 13% disagreed. [Over 2000 people were questioned]
Commenting on the ICM poll results, Cllr.John Beanse, Chair of Chingford & Woodford Green Liberal Democrats said:
"People want a fairer system of voting. They want a Parliament AND a local council which accurately reflect the balance of public opinion. We need more voter choice and a system which means that votes really count.
It is time to drag our flawed democracy, kicking and screaming if necessary, into the 21st.century. Let us hope that in 2007 both so-called "New" Labour and the self-styled, supposedly modernising Conservatives will wake up to the longstanding call of the Liberal Democrats - AND of the British prople - on this vital matter.
It is high time that we had a democracy of which we can all be proud and which at last fairly represents the British people."
Sunday, December 24, 2006
CHRISTMAS COMES TO WALTHAM FOREST ! Christmas trees outside the Town Hall, in Forest Rd., E17.
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Saturday, December 23, 2006
Christmas in Chingford and Woodford Green: wild holly with berries photographed at the top of Oak Hill, Woodford Green near the Waltham Forest/Redbridge border
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NHS Campaign
There is lots of information about the NHS campaign if you click on the Archive files for September onwards (bottom of left column) and then scroll down to view the different items.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
The "Whitehall Carol Service"
Cllr. John Beanse writes: "On Thursday 14th.December, I attended a packed lunchtime carol service at Westminster Chapel, London. This is an annual event, organised by Christians in Government UK and Christians in Politics. I got to hear of it through the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum, of which I am a member. Music was provided by the Regimental Band of the Coldstream Guards and 3 of the lessons were read by MPs from the 3 main parties. There was a very effective and amusing sermon from the Reverend Rico Tice (from All Souls, Langham Place). The service was recorded, but I do not know any details about broadcasting. Do listen if it is broadcast over the Christmas period. You would find it worthwhile."
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
NHS ILLS
GOVERNMENT HAS GONE INTO NHS TARGET OVERDRIVE
The NHS in England has been told it must achieve a £250m surplus next year. The service ended the last financial year £512m in deficit, but Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt MP has pledged to balance the books this year.
Waltham Forest Lib Dem Councillor John Beanse, who is Vice-Chair of Health Scrutiny, said:
"The Government has gone into target overdrive. How can hospitals already at financial breaking point be expected to chase new targets while trying to dig themselves out of the cycle of debt imposed by Labour’s Alice in Wonderland accounting rules*[see below]? Patients will lose out in the struggle between hitting targets and achieving financial balance, as hospitals will face no option but to cut vital services. For many trusts, including our own local Trusts, breaking even by next year will not be possible without continuing to cut staff numbers and services. The damaging accounting rules which mean deficits have to be repaid twice must be urgently reformed if the NHS is to put an end to debts."
[Under RAB rules (Resource Accounting and Budgeting), if a Trust spends say £105m one year, but has an income of £100m it would end the year with a deficit of £5m. The rules would then slice £5m from its income in the following year and also oblige it to make a £5m surplus. So the Trust would be obliged to cut its net spending from £105m to £90m - described by "The Guardian" as a "triple whammy".]
The NHS in England has been told it must achieve a £250m surplus next year. The service ended the last financial year £512m in deficit, but Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt MP has pledged to balance the books this year.
Waltham Forest Lib Dem Councillor John Beanse, who is Vice-Chair of Health Scrutiny, said:
"The Government has gone into target overdrive. How can hospitals already at financial breaking point be expected to chase new targets while trying to dig themselves out of the cycle of debt imposed by Labour’s Alice in Wonderland accounting rules*[see below]? Patients will lose out in the struggle between hitting targets and achieving financial balance, as hospitals will face no option but to cut vital services. For many trusts, including our own local Trusts, breaking even by next year will not be possible without continuing to cut staff numbers and services. The damaging accounting rules which mean deficits have to be repaid twice must be urgently reformed if the NHS is to put an end to debts."
[Under RAB rules (Resource Accounting and Budgeting), if a Trust spends say £105m one year, but has an income of £100m it would end the year with a deficit of £5m. The rules would then slice £5m from its income in the following year and also oblige it to make a £5m surplus. So the Trust would be obliged to cut its net spending from £105m to £90m - described by "The Guardian" as a "triple whammy".]
Monday, December 11, 2006
Lib Dem successes
November Lib Dem by-election surge
Liberal Democrats enjoyed a successful month at the polls in November. According to the latest figures, the Liberal Democrats gained more seats than the Conservatives whilst Labour remained in the doldrums with a net loss.
The Lib Dems' most successful night was on Thursday 30th November when the party picked up five seats - three from Labour and two from the Independents. The only loss on that day was to the Conservatives in Havant. Ironically, at the start of November the Lib Dems gained a seat from the Conservatives on the same council.
The Lib Dems ended the month with a net gain of six seats, while the Conservatives have a net gain of four. Labour's net losses stood at three whilst the Independents lost seven and had no gains.
Liberal Democrats enjoyed a successful month at the polls in November. According to the latest figures, the Liberal Democrats gained more seats than the Conservatives whilst Labour remained in the doldrums with a net loss.
The Lib Dems' most successful night was on Thursday 30th November when the party picked up five seats - three from Labour and two from the Independents. The only loss on that day was to the Conservatives in Havant. Ironically, at the start of November the Lib Dems gained a seat from the Conservatives on the same council.
The Lib Dems ended the month with a net gain of six seats, while the Conservatives have a net gain of four. Labour's net losses stood at three whilst the Independents lost seven and had no gains.
* Since then, last Thursday, 7th. December, London Lib Dems celebrated another important victory in Kentish Town, Camden, where the successful Liberal Democrat candidate gained a seat from Labour.
The by-elections are an encouraging boost for the Liberal Democrats as another important year in politics is about to begin.
The by-elections are an encouraging boost for the Liberal Democrats as another important year in politics is about to begin.
Beating crime
DID YOU KNOW - - - ?
- the cost of jailing someone for one year is about the same as the cost of employing a full time police officer for a year.
Waltham Forest councillor John Beanse commented: "We need to increase the effectiveness of the police so that criminals have a greater fear of being caught. We also need to look at effective rehabilitation of prisoners once they are caught and sentenced to prison. A priority must be to cut the crime rate amongst released prisoners. If we can do that - then we can stop people becoming victims of crime. The fact is that re-offending rates for people released from prison are alarmingly high. Just under six in ten of the prisoners released in 2003 were caught committing at least one offence in the subsequent two years. Amongst those who stole from vehicles, the re-offending rate was just under nine in ten. Clearly prison isn't working for such offenders - which is why we need to make it work."
Sunday, December 03, 2006
NHS PETITION UPDATE
"Save Whipps Cross"
The petition organised by local Lib Dems, protesting about cuts in local health services and backing Whipps Cross Hospital, goes on, but a large consignment of signatures has now been packaged and sent off. One petition has been delivered to the Chief Executive of Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust; the other goes to the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt MP.
The number of signatures sent so far is OVER 1350. A further consignment will be sent at a later date, keeping up the pressure.
The petition is made up of a) reply-slips from FOCUS leaflets, many with personal views and comments added; b) some door-to-door collections of signatures; and c) hundreds of signatures collected at two successful street campaigns in North and South Chingford.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
There is a strong groundswell of local opinion that we must maintain our health services in the borough at Whipps Cross Hospital.
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