Our NHS is in crisis - the Tories are failing it!

You can't move today for headlines shouting about how our NHS is struggling this winter.  It's not because the staff don't care, it's obvious they are all working extremely hard!  In Reading the Royal Berkshire hospital is asking staff to do extra shifts to ensure patients get the help and treatment they need.

From Twitter @RBNHSFT

This month tens of thousands of non-emergency operations are being cancelled which can be distressing to those waiting for them.   A&E units are under huge pressure because people are simply ill.  They are being asked to go to their local GP but getting appointments is getting harder and harder.  A £4.5 billion cut to social care funding has also heaped pressure on our health services.

Simon Stevens, the NHS chief executive told the Conservative government the NHS needed an extra £4 billion in 2018 however the chancellor Philip Hammond only allocated £1.6 billion.  The government did allocated an extra £350 million for the NHS but this is clearly woefully inadequate.

According to Theresa May, the Conservative Prime Minister, "The NHS has been better prepared for this winter than ever before". Well, Ms May, you've obviously not done enough.  It is very clear the NHS is not safe under the Conservatives. 

Here's is what the Labour Party will do for the NHS when it forms a government: 

Healthcare for all

 

The Budget - a lost opportunity to improve lives

I've just seen the budget.  I'm not sure what I was expecting - certainly not an end to austerity, despite it being clear it's failed.  I was hoping to see the government had listened and understood that living standards are being squeezed and people are struggling. I was wrong.

Forecasts for growth have been down graded from 2% to 1.5%. Pay continues to stagnate and public sector workers still face a pay cap. People are struggling to make ends meet and the budget has done little to lighten their load.  Food bank use continues to grow with ReadiFood delivering 135 parcels a week.  Food prices are rising as are energy costs, rents and house prices.

Stamp duty is being scrapped for first time buyers purchasing properties up to £300,000.  That's all very well but you have to be able to afford to buy the house first, have the salary to back up a mortgage plus be able to save a deposit. According to RightMove the average terraced property sold for £314,479.  Property ownership is now out of reach for many and rents, on average £1,079 for a two bed property in Reading, are also becoming unaffordable.

We face another winter where people will be faced with the choice of eating or heating.  This is nothing new, the government have not been taken by surprise. 

Some money has been thrown at the NHS.  There's £350m to address pressures in winter 2017/2018 but that won't go far when you take into account how far it's to be spread and additional pressures caused by cuts to council social care budgets and a GP service stretched to the limit.

Schools gets nothing extra in their budgets.  There is money available for secondary schools and collages for pupils taking maths at higher levels but nothing for the primary schools who have already resorted to asking parents for money to plug their budget gaps. The government really is just papering over the already deep cracks they have created.

The future really does look bleak under the Conservative government.  After 7 1/2 years of austerity it's still very much pain with little gain for the average family.

We need a change of government if we really want to see living standards improve, properly affordable housing, a well funded NHS and school budgets that provide a good quality and varied education for our children.  

We need a Labour MP in Reading West who stands up for every community, regardless of its prosperity.  

We need hope.

See Jeremy Corbyn's response to this shambles of a budget here:  Jeremy Corbyn Budget 2017 response

What would Labour do instead?  Find out here: Manifesto

Deputy Mayor Diaries: Reading Fibromyalgia Support Group - Anniversary!

On Thursday evening I attended the Reading Fibromyalgia Support Group's 1st anniversary celebration however it was all tea and cakes.

I am not sure how many people are aware of Fibromyalgia.  I am, as I know people who have the condition.  It is a painful and debilitating thing to have.  You have good days and bad days.  You have a range of symptoms that effect your ability to carry out your usual daily activities.  Until last year there was no support group in Reading but now the membership is 100 plus!

The event included a presentation by Dr Antoni CHan MBChB ERCP PhD on Fibromyalgia.  I found it very interesting and gave me a even greater understanding.  I did not know it is considered a disability. I did not know how it was diagnosed or how it is managed.  The group have a very useful information pack put together by Dr Deepak Ravindran.  You can read the information here and I recommend you do:

Fibromyalgia -All you need to know

There was a question an answer session at the end and I felt I had to ask whether this information was available to employers and trade unions.  Fibromyalgia can lead to time off work or reduced activity so I feel it is vital employers and trade unions understand the condition to prevent distressing sickness
disciplinaries.  I will be sharing the above document with my empoyer and trade union.

The group is run by Alice Gostomski.  They meet at Prospect Park Hospital 7.30pm-9pm and will be meeting on the following dates:

Thursday 18 December 2014

Thursday 22 January 2015

Thirsday 19 February 2015

You can find out further date and information by calling 07789708072 4pm-8pm weekdays or email reading.fibromyalgia@gmail.com.

With my excellent host Neil Stafford

Fix your fence -again!

The fence surrounding the abandoned medical centre site is broken once again. This time a large section was blown down during the gales a few weeks ago. I gave them some time to fix it but it's been five weeks now. This morning I rang the NHS property department and asked them to fix it as it's clearly not bring monitored. Let's hope the site is secured once again.

#NHS299 - There in spirit to #SaveOurNHS

Today thousands of people are marching in Manchester to protest against the damage the Conservative led government is doing to our NHS.  Don't forget it's ours - we pay for it!

I'd have loved to have been there but time is scarce when you have a young family and instead we spent a couple of hours in the golden sunshine on my allotment.

Time with my children is precious, all the more so for the reasons I explain in this video I recorded for the Labour Party as part of the NHS's 65th anniversary celebrations:

Labour, if elected at the general election in 2015, have said they will repeal the Health and Social Care Act which is privatising the NHS - bit by bit.

Labour will repeal Camreon's NHS market

Oxford Road Fun Day & the NHS's 65th Anniversary!

My what a busy few weeks!  It doesn't get any less busy with our regular advice surgery 10.30-12 at Battle Library tomorrow morning and the Oxford Road Fun Day 12-4 tomorrow in Kensington Park

We will be there to hear what you have to say about living in Battle Ward. We'll also be handing out the now famous Battle Councillor pens and will have helium balloons for the kids (while we still have helium).

Victoria Groulef, our parliamentary candidate for Reading West will be with us celebrating 65 years of the NHS with a giant paper chain!  We have already had a couple of rather famous people sign links.  Visit the stall to find out who and add your message to the chain.  More info here: https://donation.labour.org.uk/page/event/detail/streetstall/jrl

The weather looks set to be brilliant with no repeat of last year where we had to hold on the gazebo to stop is blowing away.  There'll also be food, drink and loads of things to do.

Cllr Chris Maskell at last years fun day.  This years will look about the same but add balloons and, apparently, a bubble machine!

Reading Labour Manifesto Launches

I am proud to present Reading Labour's Manifesto for the May 2012 local elections.  Please click to read the full publication:

Labour’s key pledges in this election are to:

• Fight for a new secondary school for all 11 – 18 year olds in East Reading

• Keep Reading clean with a crackdown on graffiti and fly-tipping

• Promote jobs and investment

• Use the Council’s watchdog powers to stand up for the NHS

• Protect Reading’s green spaces

• Continue to involve the public more effectively

• Find further efficiency savings

• Restore free OAP bus travel from 9am

• Protect libraries, youth clubs and children’s centres

• Promote environmental responsibility – the Council will lead by example and encourage others

• Create a New Local Partnership to stand up for Reading 
  

Ed Miliband at the launch of Reading Labour Party's manifesto with candidates Rose Williams, Eileen McElligot, Jo Lovelock, Tony Jones, Gul Khan, Duncan Bruce, Daya Pal Singh, Liz Terry and Haji Banaras.

 
 

How much is the NHS re-organisation costing? £3.45 billion!

Reading & District Labour Party Media Release  

22 April 2012

Bet Tickner : Lansley’s reorganisation cost the local NHS £25M last year, and it will be much the same this year

Berkshire West Primary Care Trust was made to set aside £25,375,804 in 2011-12, 2% of its budget, to pay for the costs of Andrew Lansley’s reorganisation of the NHS, and the same %age is going to be required in 2012-13, says Cllr. Bet Tickner, Labour’s Lead Councillor for Health, quoting from a Business Case leaked from the Department of Health.

The total cost across England comes to £3.45Billion, which is the figure Labour has always quoted and the Tories have always denied.

“This news comes at a time,” Cllr. Tickner says, “when more and more jobs are being lost from the NHS (there are 4096 fewer nurses than there were at the general election), when waiting times for operations are getting longer and longer and the 18-week maximum wait established by Labour is being broken more and more frequently, and when some types of operations are just no longer being carried out at all.   The last thing the NHS locally needs is £50M+ pinched from its budget over two years to pay for a reorganisation that nobody apart from Andrew Lansley wanted.”

“But of course the millionaires who got that big tax break from the budget will have no problems paying for private health care.”

Some thoughts on tonights full #rdg Council meeting

Just got back (via the shops for milk) and thought I would pop a few bits about tonights meeting down.

Firstly I have to say how moved I was by Cllr Jamie Chowdhary's farewell speech.  He appears to have been treated terribly by Reading East Conservative Party, who are yet give a full explanation as to what has happened.  He received a standing ovation by Labour, the Lib Dems, the Greens and Cllr Mark Ralph. Very sad indeed.  I wish him good health and happiness for the future.

On a more positive note I am pleased to say Reading Labour's motion on job substitution, which you can read here, was passed.  I seconded the motion and spoke briefly about how it was designed to ensure work substitution did not take place at a time when people are worried about their jobs and supporting their families.  The Conservatives wanted to amend it to the point the monitoring of job substitution was no longer in the motion, but this was not accepted.

Other motions, among others, were passed on the NHS, against the forced acadamisation of schools and supporting super (or was it super duper) fast broadband.

It was a long night, finishing just past 11, but I must say I did enjoy my short walk home in the relative peace this time of night brings, especially when the night sky was so beautiful.

Let's Talk Health Question Time

12/03/2012
Reading Borough Council Press Release

A special 'Question Time' event will take place later this month as the culmination of Reading Borough Council's 'Let's Talk Health' consultation.

Can't make it to the rally but I still want to #SaveOurNHS

At 6 pm today a rally is taking place in London, urging the government to drop the harmful Health & Social Care Bill.  I can't make it into London but I do want to add my support.  I have already signed the petition to Drop The Bill, regularly Tweet to #SaveOurNHS and recently shared how the #NHSSavedMyLife.  Please do something if you can. You can watch it live here.

Here are some facts from False Economy (the full factsheet can be seen here)

Let's Talk Health - continuing the conversation

In the recent Let's Talk surveys and events, Battle residents made it clear that health services were very important to them.  Reading Borough Council are committed to talking to residents about the things that are important to them so the next Let's Talk conversation will be about health!  Click on the picture below to find out more:

 

Battle will be hosting a Let's Talk Health event at Battle Library on Monday 27 February 2-4 pm.  There is a questionnaire available online and there are also paper questionnaires available at libraries, leisure centres and other council buildings, as well as GP surgeries, dentists and local hospitals

Is there enough health provision in Battle Ward?  Do you use our local parks to exercise and keep fit?  Are you and your family getting the support you need to improve or maintain your health?  Please do go along and make your thoughts heard about the things you like and the things you want to see more of.

Healthy Living Event To Be Held in Town

19/01/2012
Reading Borough Council Press Release

A healthy living event is taking place in the town on Wednesday, February 8th.

People who live and work in Reading can go along to the Civic Offices from 10.30am-1.30pm, where adult social care and health professionals will be on hand to offer advice to those with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, breathing problems and joint pain.

There will be free blood pressure checks and screening for diabetes.

From 10.30am-12.30pm, a series of lifestyle presentations will take place, led by Citizens' Advice Bureau, Arthritis Care, Diabetes UK, The Stroke Association and NHS Berkshire.

The event has been organised by Reading's Physical Disabilities and Sensory Needs Network (PDSN)   a group which aims to improve the quality of life for people with physical disabilities, neurological conditions and sensory loss.

Mike Orton, lead councillor for adult social care, said: 'It is really important people take care of their health. This event is a good way for people who have long term health conditions to check themselves out and ask health professionals any questions.'

The PDSN Network is an organisation made up of adult social care service users, carers, representatives from national charities and local user-led organisations. This event will help people to improve their lives by seeing how they improve their health by changes in life style.

Regular meetings take place four times a year alongside special events and conferences focusing on issues of particular interest or concern for people with physical and/or sensory disabilities and their carers.

For more information call Nina Crispin on (0118) 937 2383 or email housingccstrategyteam@reading.gov.uk

Battle site medical centre a victim of NHS cutbacks

It has been confirmed by the local health authority that the much anticipated medical centre on the Battle Hospital site will not be built.  To say this is disappointing would be a massive understatement.  For years Battle residents have been waiting for the medical centre and it was something they decided they would like on the former hospital site after being consulted in 2005.

In a press release from NHS Berkshire, financial constraints were given as one of the reasons for abandoning their plans.  This is a very real demonstration of how the Tory/Lib Dem's plans for the NHS are effecting  the people of Reading already, before the highly damaging health bill is passed.  For example the number of patients on waiting lists for more than 18 weeks has risen 153 % in Berkshire West since May 2010.

Battle councillors believe the Primary care Trust (PCT) will sell off the land in West Village for further housing.  Battle councillor ChrisMaskell said: “This is a betrayal of the Oxford Road Community. In 2005 we held a series of public meetings and surveyed the entire ward to find out what people wanted to come from the redevelopment of the Battle Hospital site. The overwhelming response was that people wanted a medical centre to replace Battle Hospital. “

Battle councillor Gul Khan said: “This is a devastating blow to the Oxford Road Community. We believe the Coalition Government is “cleaning up” the NHS in preparation to sell off the profitable bits to the highest bidders wherever they may be in the world but only time will tell. However, what we do know is, cuts to the NHS are happening now even though the Coalition Government’s NHS reform bill has not yet passed into legislation. What the PCT is proposing is a disgrace.”

Here is the press release from Reading and District Labour Party about this weekend of action.  There will be a stall outside Battle Library from 10-1 tomorrow (Saturday 10 December 2011) and you can sign the petition to drop the bill here: