4th January
A set of revised pay rates is to go to Council next Monday. It cannot be right to raise the cost of us councillors at a time when we are making 99 members of our staff redundant and cutting severely into the budgets to support the most vulnerable in this Borough.
Taking a step back to try and judge what is fair in view of the time commitment involved, for example, those who sit on the cabinet ( if they do their job well and conscientiously!) should be spending quite a time each day in hands on managing public money of around £700 million a year.
Those who chair committees such as employment , audit, scrutiny committees and planning do have a bit more work than an ordinary councillor but not that much more in my view, to justify an extra £5200 to £8300 each more in pay. A cut to a total pay here to say around £3000 as an extra allowance, would save about £40000 which would result in an overall cut in the budget to the council tax bill for the cost of councillor pay, rather than what is currently proposed which would cost around £16000 extra.
. At a time of painful cuts for the community we councillors must not be immune . We used to do the job for an allowance for each committee we attended but I accept that this could seriously disadvantage younger candidates who could find their income so very badly affected if they then committed to taking on a lot of extra responsibilities over and above that of an ordinary councillor
.This must be balanced however , by the fact that is an honour to be elected and represent your local residents . Many of us do similar unpaid work as magistrates, sit on voluntary bodies such as the Citizens advice bureau and run very time consuming counselling work in marriage guidance with no claim for payment so working as a councillor still represents a similar considerable public service. So scrap the increases and cut the extra allowances !!
Regards
Cllr Ian Robertson
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Are you sure the NHS is safe in Tory hands? OK if you can afford to go private!
•
NHS hospitals in England will be free to use almost half their hospital beds and theatre time for private patients under government plans.
A recent revision to the ongoing health bill will allow foundation hospitals to raise 49% of funds through non-NHS work if the bill gets through Parliament.
Most foundation trusts are now limited to a private income of about 2%.
The Health Secretary says the move will benefit NHS patients but Labour claimed it could lead to longer waiting lists.
The amendment to a clause of the Health and Social Care Bill was made shortly before Christmas by Health Minister Earl Howe.
Commenting on the move, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said lifting the private income cap for foundation hospitals would directly benefit NHS patients.
Health and Social Care Bill
• Introduced into Parliament on 19 January 2011
• Main theme is to change commissioning of NHS services, giving GPs more control of the NHS budget
• Concerns led to a Government 'listening exercise' in the summer
• The bill then progressed through the House of Commons
• Further examination of the bill is to take place in the House of Lords in 2012
"If these hospitals earn additional income from private work that means there will be more money available to invest in NHS services," he said in a statement.
"Furthermore services for NHS patients will be safeguarded because foundation hospitals' core legal duty will be to care for them."
But Labour's shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham claimed the move could mean longer waits for NHS patients.
He said: "This surprise move, sneaked out just before Christmas, is the clearest sign yet of David Cameron's determination to turn our precious NHS into a US-style commercial system, where hospitals are more interested in profits than people.
"With NHS hospitals able to devote half of their beds to private patients, people will begin to see how our hospitals will never be the same again if Cameron's Health Bill gets through Parliament."
Critical services
A cap on the amount of income hospitals can raise from private patients was put in place by Labour in 2003, amid political controversy over the setting up of foundation hospitals, which have more freedom to decide how their services are run. All NHS hospitals are set to become foundation hospitals by 2014.
...the Government has consistently assured us that the NHS is safe in their hands, but if allowed to go ahead, the removal of the cap could lead to the fundamental erosion of key NHS principles”
End Quote Dr Peter Carter RCN
The cap has prevented hospitals from expanding their private work beyond the proportion earned in 2002. It varies from hospital to hospital, but is limited to about 2% in most hospitals.
In a small number of specialist hospitals, such as the Royal Marsden, the limit is set much higher, at around 30%. Health secretary Andrew Lansley has long said he will abolish the cap but it has been unclear how much private work would be allowed.
Proponents of the move have pointed out that the Royal Marsden is rated one of the best NHS providers while taking up to around a third of its income from private activity.
But critics are concerned that NHS patients would get a poor deal under the proposals, as foundation trusts with large financial deficits seek to take on more private work.
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said it was "a seriously worrying development".
"At a time when the health service has to make significant efficiency savings, it is only natural, that given the option, providers will look to maximise their income through private patients," he said.
"This will undoubtedly lead to a situation whereby those who can afford to pay will get faster access to better treatment, with increased waiting times and a decrease in quality for NHS patients."
He said existing NHS providers could be left to deliver critical services, which are the most expensive and challenging to run.
He added: "Really, it doesn't get much more serious than this; the Government has consistently assured us that the NHS is safe in their hands, but if allowed to go ahead, the removal of the cap could lead to the fundamental erosion of key NHS principles.
"The very heart of these principles being that access to care should be on the basis of clinical need, regardless of ability to pay."
Dual role
But the chief executive of the health thinktank, the King's Fund, Chris Ham said hospitals had generated funds from private patients for many years, and it was possible to provide high quality care to both NHS and private patients in the same hospital.
"The cap is only a significant consideration for a minority of hospitals," he said.
"These hospitals should report annually on how they are ensuring NHS patients do not lose out if the cap is either removed or at a relatively high proportion of income."
I think this is another step for the tories to privatise as much as possible of our NHS
What do you think! ... regards Ian Robertson walsall.
NHS hospitals in England will be free to use almost half their hospital beds and theatre time for private patients under government plans.
A recent revision to the ongoing health bill will allow foundation hospitals to raise 49% of funds through non-NHS work if the bill gets through Parliament.
Most foundation trusts are now limited to a private income of about 2%.
The Health Secretary says the move will benefit NHS patients but Labour claimed it could lead to longer waiting lists.
The amendment to a clause of the Health and Social Care Bill was made shortly before Christmas by Health Minister Earl Howe.
Commenting on the move, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said lifting the private income cap for foundation hospitals would directly benefit NHS patients.
Health and Social Care Bill
• Introduced into Parliament on 19 January 2011
• Main theme is to change commissioning of NHS services, giving GPs more control of the NHS budget
• Concerns led to a Government 'listening exercise' in the summer
• The bill then progressed through the House of Commons
• Further examination of the bill is to take place in the House of Lords in 2012
"If these hospitals earn additional income from private work that means there will be more money available to invest in NHS services," he said in a statement.
"Furthermore services for NHS patients will be safeguarded because foundation hospitals' core legal duty will be to care for them."
But Labour's shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham claimed the move could mean longer waits for NHS patients.
He said: "This surprise move, sneaked out just before Christmas, is the clearest sign yet of David Cameron's determination to turn our precious NHS into a US-style commercial system, where hospitals are more interested in profits than people.
"With NHS hospitals able to devote half of their beds to private patients, people will begin to see how our hospitals will never be the same again if Cameron's Health Bill gets through Parliament."
Critical services
A cap on the amount of income hospitals can raise from private patients was put in place by Labour in 2003, amid political controversy over the setting up of foundation hospitals, which have more freedom to decide how their services are run. All NHS hospitals are set to become foundation hospitals by 2014.
...the Government has consistently assured us that the NHS is safe in their hands, but if allowed to go ahead, the removal of the cap could lead to the fundamental erosion of key NHS principles”
End Quote Dr Peter Carter RCN
The cap has prevented hospitals from expanding their private work beyond the proportion earned in 2002. It varies from hospital to hospital, but is limited to about 2% in most hospitals.
In a small number of specialist hospitals, such as the Royal Marsden, the limit is set much higher, at around 30%. Health secretary Andrew Lansley has long said he will abolish the cap but it has been unclear how much private work would be allowed.
Proponents of the move have pointed out that the Royal Marsden is rated one of the best NHS providers while taking up to around a third of its income from private activity.
But critics are concerned that NHS patients would get a poor deal under the proposals, as foundation trusts with large financial deficits seek to take on more private work.
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said it was "a seriously worrying development".
"At a time when the health service has to make significant efficiency savings, it is only natural, that given the option, providers will look to maximise their income through private patients," he said.
"This will undoubtedly lead to a situation whereby those who can afford to pay will get faster access to better treatment, with increased waiting times and a decrease in quality for NHS patients."
He said existing NHS providers could be left to deliver critical services, which are the most expensive and challenging to run.
He added: "Really, it doesn't get much more serious than this; the Government has consistently assured us that the NHS is safe in their hands, but if allowed to go ahead, the removal of the cap could lead to the fundamental erosion of key NHS principles.
"The very heart of these principles being that access to care should be on the basis of clinical need, regardless of ability to pay."
Dual role
But the chief executive of the health thinktank, the King's Fund, Chris Ham said hospitals had generated funds from private patients for many years, and it was possible to provide high quality care to both NHS and private patients in the same hospital.
"The cap is only a significant consideration for a minority of hospitals," he said.
"These hospitals should report annually on how they are ensuring NHS patients do not lose out if the cap is either removed or at a relatively high proportion of income."
I think this is another step for the tories to privatise as much as possible of our NHS
What do you think! ... regards Ian Robertson walsall.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Win for labour in Birchills Leamore
Tina Jukes wins for Labour
While not in Walsall South, many of us have been helping in canvassing in the by election in Birchills Leamore and despite the date ( not called by Labour or tories) right next to Christmas the following result has put some Christmas cheer in our step here in Walsall Labour.
We shall redouble our efforts to capture the next 4 seats to re gain control of this Council in May 2012. All help gratefullly received.
On a low turnout for a by-election of 15.9% but not surprising given the
closeness to Christmas , Tina Jukes defended the Birchills seat of the late Joan
Barton
Results Birchills-Leamore: Lab hold.
Tina Jukes (Lab): 835; 53%Kamran Aftab (Con) 512; 32%
Chris Newey (Eng Dem) 130; 8% Liz Hazell (UKIP) 59; 4%
L Gebrakedan (Green) 46. 3%
Tina will be an excellent councillor for the people of Birchills-Leamore.
This result once again sees Labour and Conservatives at 27 seats each, Lib
Dems with 5 and an independent.
This Council has been run by the Tories for the past 12 years. They continue to waste our money... the latest proposal to spend nearly £1 Million on doing up the Council House over the next two years when front line services for the most vulnerable in this Borough are being cut to the bone is just one example.
There have been serious flaws in a number of contracts that have resulted in really bad deals for Walsall residents : education is potentially in limbo with the apparent proposal to end the Serco contract within 6 months and leaves a real sense of concern for teachers and pupils as they face their examinations in the summer... we need to re-establish the Walsall Education Board urgently to take control:
However we all know that their theme is 'let the market decide' OK if you are well off but not so good if you are struggling! As our Town centres fall into decay and unemployment rises and education results, while improved ,are nowhere near good enough, we look forward to being in a position to do a lot better for the residents of Walsall after May.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
email newsletter from Valerie Vaz MP
November 2011
Walsall South To Contact Valerie: Constituency Office:
Telephone: 01922 635835 114a Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS1 1SZ Westminster Office:
Telephone: 020 7219 7176
Email: valerie.vaz.mp@parliament.uk House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA For further information, please visit: http://www.valerievazmp.co.uk/
HOSPITAL BUS STOP
When the 38 bus was intro-duced it was expected to stop at the Manor Hospital. A Red Route was placed on Pleck Road, so buses stopped some distance away.
Valerie wrote to the Chief Executives of Walsall Healthcare and National Express West Midlands and they have said that from the 1st January 2012 the bus will stop at the Hospital.
VALERIE HOSTS EVENTS IN HONOUR OF NOOR
INYAT KHAN & AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Photo by Alan Williams During November, Valerie hosted events at the House of Commons in honour of Noor Inyat Khan and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Valerie said: "Noor died in Da-chau concentration camp in 1944, at the young age of 30 having risked her life as a member of the Special Opera-tions Executive, based in Paris during the Second World War. She was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the George Cross but there is no memorial to her in this country. I look forward to one being unveiled in 2012."
"It was a privilege to host the event in honour of Aung San Suu Kyi. I hope many people will learn about her inspiring life through the book "The Lady and the Peacock", which was launched at the event. Noor Inyat Khan and Aung San Suu Kyi are both very
inspiring women."
WALSALL SOUTH AND THE 2012 OLYMPICS
" YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RISES
Valerie has criticised the Government’s record on long-term youth unemployment after the number of people aged 18-24 in Walsall South who have been claiming Job Seekers’ Al-lowance for more than six months doubled between Janu-ary and October this year. 600 young people in Walsall South have now been claiming JSA for more than 6 months.
Nationally, there are now over 1 million young people claim-ing JSA and in Walsall South the figure stands at 1,456.
Valerie said: "Before Labour’s Future Jobs Fund was abol-ished I visited a project in Walsall South. I saw its work at first hand. Young people who would have been on the dole were given training. There was no Government interference, but money was given directly to local organisations which taught skills to match the available jobs. At the end, the young people received a CV and a reference.
VALERIE REACTS TO AUTUMN STATEMENT On Tuesday 29th November 2011, the Chancellor, the Rt Hon George Osborne MP delivered his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons. The Chancellor announced that public sector pay rises would be capped at 1% at the end of the current pay freeze, that the total number of public sector job losses will reach 710,000 and that the Government will borrow £158 billion more than expected.
Valerie said: "I am astonished that the Chancellor has decided to cap public sec-tor pay rises at 1% at the end of the current pay freeze. This is well below the current rate of inflation and in effect represents a pay cut for thousands of teach-ers, nurses and police officers."
"The Government is set to borrow £158 billion more than it planned a year ago. Its economic policy is simply not working. The Government lacks the
competence to bring growth back to the economy and bring down the deficit."
Surgeries Valerie holds regular surgeries. To arrange an appointment, please call the Constituency Office on 01922 635835 Valerie has welcomed news of the benefits the 2012 Olympics will bring to Walsall South. It was announced this month that Walsall South-based manufacturer, Alucast has won a contract to produce components for the torches to be used in the Olympic Flame Relay. The relay will pass through Walsall on 30th June 2012.
Valerie wrote to every school in Walsall South asking them to take part in a scheme to make Pennant Flags for all the athletes taking part in the 2012 Olympics. Valerie said: "I hope all schools in Wal-sall South will take up this opportunity."
Walsall South To Contact Valerie: Constituency Office:
Telephone: 01922 635835 114a Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS1 1SZ Westminster Office:
Telephone: 020 7219 7176
Email: valerie.vaz.mp@parliament.uk House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA For further information, please visit: http://www.valerievazmp.co.uk/
HOSPITAL BUS STOP
When the 38 bus was intro-duced it was expected to stop at the Manor Hospital. A Red Route was placed on Pleck Road, so buses stopped some distance away.
Valerie wrote to the Chief Executives of Walsall Healthcare and National Express West Midlands and they have said that from the 1st January 2012 the bus will stop at the Hospital.
VALERIE HOSTS EVENTS IN HONOUR OF NOOR
INYAT KHAN & AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Photo by Alan Williams During November, Valerie hosted events at the House of Commons in honour of Noor Inyat Khan and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Valerie said: "Noor died in Da-chau concentration camp in 1944, at the young age of 30 having risked her life as a member of the Special Opera-tions Executive, based in Paris during the Second World War. She was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the George Cross but there is no memorial to her in this country. I look forward to one being unveiled in 2012."
"It was a privilege to host the event in honour of Aung San Suu Kyi. I hope many people will learn about her inspiring life through the book "The Lady and the Peacock", which was launched at the event. Noor Inyat Khan and Aung San Suu Kyi are both very
inspiring women."
WALSALL SOUTH AND THE 2012 OLYMPICS
" YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RISES
Valerie has criticised the Government’s record on long-term youth unemployment after the number of people aged 18-24 in Walsall South who have been claiming Job Seekers’ Al-lowance for more than six months doubled between Janu-ary and October this year. 600 young people in Walsall South have now been claiming JSA for more than 6 months.
Nationally, there are now over 1 million young people claim-ing JSA and in Walsall South the figure stands at 1,456.
Valerie said: "Before Labour’s Future Jobs Fund was abol-ished I visited a project in Walsall South. I saw its work at first hand. Young people who would have been on the dole were given training. There was no Government interference, but money was given directly to local organisations which taught skills to match the available jobs. At the end, the young people received a CV and a reference.
VALERIE REACTS TO AUTUMN STATEMENT On Tuesday 29th November 2011, the Chancellor, the Rt Hon George Osborne MP delivered his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons. The Chancellor announced that public sector pay rises would be capped at 1% at the end of the current pay freeze, that the total number of public sector job losses will reach 710,000 and that the Government will borrow £158 billion more than expected.
Valerie said: "I am astonished that the Chancellor has decided to cap public sec-tor pay rises at 1% at the end of the current pay freeze. This is well below the current rate of inflation and in effect represents a pay cut for thousands of teach-ers, nurses and police officers."
"The Government is set to borrow £158 billion more than it planned a year ago. Its economic policy is simply not working. The Government lacks the
competence to bring growth back to the economy and bring down the deficit."
Surgeries Valerie holds regular surgeries. To arrange an appointment, please call the Constituency Office on 01922 635835 Valerie has welcomed news of the benefits the 2012 Olympics will bring to Walsall South. It was announced this month that Walsall South-based manufacturer, Alucast has won a contract to produce components for the torches to be used in the Olympic Flame Relay. The relay will pass through Walsall on 30th June 2012.
Valerie wrote to every school in Walsall South asking them to take part in a scheme to make Pennant Flags for all the athletes taking part in the 2012 Olympics. Valerie said: "I hope all schools in Wal-sall South will take up this opportunity."
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
There are lies, damn lies and then there are Liberal Democrat lies
There was a lively debate at full Council last Monday 7th November on the subject of the future of our National Health Service and the impact this will have in Walsall.
There have been a number of reports for example that have been to the Board that runs our Manor Hospital earlier this year which indicated some concerns from an inspection that while most elderly who were questioned were happy, some were not and monitoring of access to food and water at times was not up to standard. Another report into maternity services also revealed over 1000 ‘incidents over the last year, some minor but some more serious.
The inspection of elderly services came to health scrutiny when we took the opportunity to question the head of nursing at the Manor on that report. The one on maternity services will be on a future agenda. There was also a report that long term waiting lists had risen ( those waiting over a year)
Could it be that these reports are a sign that our local hospital is desperately trying to balance their accounts and make cutbacks so that they can go forward to be accepted as a Foundation Trust?
All hospitals have been commanded to prepare to be Foundation trusts and be looked at by a new national body called ‘Monitor’ which is supposed to look over these Foundation trusts but seems to be more of an economic regulator than a body with real clout to assess outcomes. These new Foundation trusts will be free to promote and increase the proportion of private treatment provided.
Such reports with the amount of changes happening in the field of health and social care, could only be scrutinised in depth if a whole meeting designated to look at that one area or a special working party asked to report back. In reality only those with a good working knowledge of the NHS and hospitals can lead such an in depth questioning of professionals who are well practised in giving careful answers in response to what they could perceive is an attack on their profession.
Bringing in our national health service is one of the many great achievements of the Labour Party and it is true that successive Governments have tried to alter the management structures to make the NHS more ‘efficient’ but probably more in reality to keep the costs within some kind of budget. Here we have for the first time, 80% of the NHS being handed over from central control to 250 commissioning groups run by local doctors. While respecting their genuine professional integrity , I cannot see how they can impartially allocate such vast sums of money that directly affects there own income. 7 out of 10 doctors do not want this .
In some parts of the north, there is already evidence that some GP practices are being told they will not be accepted into the new commissioning group unless they change their more expensive patterns of costly health care.
We are told that the new bodies set up to advise and monitor the performance of the these new GP commissioning bodies will be called the Health and Well being boards… I do not believe they will have enough power to seriously challenge these new commissioning Boards.. we shall but try of course as the only show in town.
The new chair nationally of these commissioning boards Professor Grant indicated that he was not a user of the NHS which is worrying as to how much faith he has in the NHS.
These proposals now coming into place will cost nationally around £5 billion with independent legal advice saying that this will be a real threat to the fundamental principles of the NHS and in fact take the national out of the NHS title and promote a two tier health care service with promotion of private alternatives.
We call on scrapping this Bill now before it goes on in future years to promote scrapping of our NHS.
Just a note on the liberals who are facing oblivion as a party having sold their soul for a key to the wash room of the cabinet office and are coming up with all sorts of smoke screens to try and cover their tracks. I know the public out there will hold them to account at the next election.
On a footnote in repsonse to a comment posted 9th November
The figures in the notice to Council were correct at the time of writing. The waiting lists of over 1 year are now down to 40 ... just a 200% increase over the past year. The maternity services report will go to the next scrutiny meeting at my request. The Liberals in coalition had the power to bury this reorganisation of the nhs bill as recommended by the majority of health professionals.
Talking to colleagues at the Hospital, they complain that they cannot do their job to the standard they were trained to do at times due to time pressures .. brought on by financial pressures due to the hospital tryng to comply with the strict financial rules before going down the Foundation route. Nationally there are more serious reports from hospital patients and even in Yorkshire GPs complaining they have been asked to change their treatment patterns before being invited to join in the commissioning group as their current pattern was too expensive!
Nationally labour have tried to fight these changes and have an on line petition for anyone to sign calling for the NHS Bill to be withdrawn.
Regards
Ian Robertson
There have been a number of reports for example that have been to the Board that runs our Manor Hospital earlier this year which indicated some concerns from an inspection that while most elderly who were questioned were happy, some were not and monitoring of access to food and water at times was not up to standard. Another report into maternity services also revealed over 1000 ‘incidents over the last year, some minor but some more serious.
The inspection of elderly services came to health scrutiny when we took the opportunity to question the head of nursing at the Manor on that report. The one on maternity services will be on a future agenda. There was also a report that long term waiting lists had risen ( those waiting over a year)
Could it be that these reports are a sign that our local hospital is desperately trying to balance their accounts and make cutbacks so that they can go forward to be accepted as a Foundation Trust?
All hospitals have been commanded to prepare to be Foundation trusts and be looked at by a new national body called ‘Monitor’ which is supposed to look over these Foundation trusts but seems to be more of an economic regulator than a body with real clout to assess outcomes. These new Foundation trusts will be free to promote and increase the proportion of private treatment provided.
Such reports with the amount of changes happening in the field of health and social care, could only be scrutinised in depth if a whole meeting designated to look at that one area or a special working party asked to report back. In reality only those with a good working knowledge of the NHS and hospitals can lead such an in depth questioning of professionals who are well practised in giving careful answers in response to what they could perceive is an attack on their profession.
Bringing in our national health service is one of the many great achievements of the Labour Party and it is true that successive Governments have tried to alter the management structures to make the NHS more ‘efficient’ but probably more in reality to keep the costs within some kind of budget. Here we have for the first time, 80% of the NHS being handed over from central control to 250 commissioning groups run by local doctors. While respecting their genuine professional integrity , I cannot see how they can impartially allocate such vast sums of money that directly affects there own income. 7 out of 10 doctors do not want this .
In some parts of the north, there is already evidence that some GP practices are being told they will not be accepted into the new commissioning group unless they change their more expensive patterns of costly health care.
We are told that the new bodies set up to advise and monitor the performance of the these new GP commissioning bodies will be called the Health and Well being boards… I do not believe they will have enough power to seriously challenge these new commissioning Boards.. we shall but try of course as the only show in town.
The new chair nationally of these commissioning boards Professor Grant indicated that he was not a user of the NHS which is worrying as to how much faith he has in the NHS.
These proposals now coming into place will cost nationally around £5 billion with independent legal advice saying that this will be a real threat to the fundamental principles of the NHS and in fact take the national out of the NHS title and promote a two tier health care service with promotion of private alternatives.
We call on scrapping this Bill now before it goes on in future years to promote scrapping of our NHS.
Just a note on the liberals who are facing oblivion as a party having sold their soul for a key to the wash room of the cabinet office and are coming up with all sorts of smoke screens to try and cover their tracks. I know the public out there will hold them to account at the next election.
On a footnote in repsonse to a comment posted 9th November
The figures in the notice to Council were correct at the time of writing. The waiting lists of over 1 year are now down to 40 ... just a 200% increase over the past year. The maternity services report will go to the next scrutiny meeting at my request. The Liberals in coalition had the power to bury this reorganisation of the nhs bill as recommended by the majority of health professionals.
Talking to colleagues at the Hospital, they complain that they cannot do their job to the standard they were trained to do at times due to time pressures .. brought on by financial pressures due to the hospital tryng to comply with the strict financial rules before going down the Foundation route. Nationally there are more serious reports from hospital patients and even in Yorkshire GPs complaining they have been asked to change their treatment patterns before being invited to join in the commissioning group as their current pattern was too expensive!
Nationally labour have tried to fight these changes and have an on line petition for anyone to sign calling for the NHS Bill to be withdrawn.
Regards
Ian Robertson
Saturday, October 22, 2011
There is a better way to save the economy in Walsall and the West Midlands
Labour’s five-point plan for jobs and growth in the West Midlands
1. Create up to 8,500 jobs for young people and build 1,900 new homes
2. Bring forward investment projects like new school buildings
3. Temporarily reverse the Tory-led Government’s VAT rise - a £450 boost for
families with children
4. Cut VAT on home improvements to 5% for a year
5. Give up to 170,000 small firms a tax break to take on extra workers
There is a better way in the West Midlands
Our jobs plan includes
a tax on bank bonuses to fund up to 100,000 jobs for young people; bringing forward longterm
investments in infrastructure like roads and schools; a temporary VAT cut which would
give families with children a boost of around £450; a one year cut in VAT to 5 per cent on
home improvements and repairs to help small businesses; and tax breaks for small businesses
taking on extra workers.
The Tory-led Government refuses to listen to people’s concerns. Far from being the safe haven
George Osborne claims it is, Britain’s recovery was choked off last autumn – well before the
current crisis in the eurozone. We now know that there has been zero growth in our economy for
nine months. Japan is the only G7 country that has grown more slowly over the last year.
The decision by the Bank of England effectively to print more money shows that the
Government’s reckless plan is not working. In fact two years ago the Chancellor George Osborne
said doing this was “the last resort of desperate governments when all other policies have failed.”
But there’s only so much the Bank of England can do on its own. The Government needs to act
too. The real problem is that the Government is cutting spending and putting up taxes too far and
too fast. And the result is that families have been hit hard, the economy has ground to a halt and
more people are now out of work.
Unemployment is at its highest level in 17 years, with over 2.5 million people without a job. One in
five young people are out of work and there are now more women unemployed than any time
since 1988. And while 111,000 jobs have been lost in the public sector in the three months to
June, just 41,000 jobs have been created in the private sector.
Like every other country we’ve got to get our deficit down and that means tough decisions
on tax and spending cuts. But the Government doesn’t seem to understand that more people on
the dole – claiming benefits rather than paying taxes – will just make it harder and harder to get
the deficit down.
The International Monetary Fund has now warned that if things get any worse the Tory-led
Government will have to change course and slow down the cuts and tax rises. Business groups are
also calling on the Government to do more to get the economy growing again.
There is a better way – a real plan for jobs and growth to get our economy moving again and
help get the deficit down in a steadier and more balanced way.
And we must now lay the foundations for a new bargain in the future based on something-forsomething
values which reward responsibility, help us pay our way in the world and fulfil the promise of Britain. If David Cameron and George Osborne really understood how tough things are for families, pensioners and businesses they’d stop sitting on their hands and take action now.
There is a better way
– a real plan for jobs and growth to get our economy moving again and help get
the deficit down in a steadier and more balanced way.
By trying to cut spending and raise taxes too far and too fast this Tory-led Government is getting our
economy into a vicious circle. By choking off the recovery and putting tens of thousands of people
on the dole, claiming benefits rather than paying taxes, the Government will make it harder to get the
deficit down. David Cameron’s austerity plan is hurting, but it isn’t working.
The Tories: Too Far, Too Fast
• The Tory-led Government’s decision to cut the deficit too far and too fast choked off the
economic recovery last autumn - well before the eurozone crisis of recent months.
• In the last nine months the UK economy has not grown at all.
• Over the last year Japan is the only G7 country to grow more slowly than the UK.
• Slower growth and higher unemployment means the Government is now set to borrow
£46 billion more over the next few years.• Unemployment is rising again and is currently
at the highest level in 17 years.
• The number of women unemployed is at its highest level since 1988.
• Almost one million young people are unable to find a job, the highest number since
comparable records began in 1992. But one of the first acts of the Tory-led Government
was to scrap Labour’s Future Jobs Fund which helped young people into work.
• The private sector is failing to fill the gap left by the Government’s public spending cuts
that go too far and too fast. more borrowing £46 billion young people unable to find a job one million
The effect of the Tory-led Government’s cuts in the West Midlands:
• The Tories have scrapped Labour’s Future Jobs Fund which helped 12,090 people in the West
Midlands into jobs.
• The number house building starts fell by 430 in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same
quarter a year ago.
• 234,000 people in the West Midlands are unemployed as of October 2011.
• The Tories have scrapped Advantage West Midlands, the Regional Development Agency for the
area, despite the fact that in the last year of the Labour Government:
- Advantage West Midland’s regionally based and managed venture capital funds made 54
investments, totalling £5.1 million. This levered in £17.4 million of private funds
- Three major low carbon vehicle projects of national significance were launched, and the
region (with the East Midlands) has been recognised as the UK’s Low Carbon Area for
Advanced Automotive Engineering.
This is a really worrying time for families; struggling with higher food prices and gas bills and worried about their jobs and their children’s futures.
There is a better way
1. Create up to 8,500 jobs for young people and build 1,900 new homes
2. Bring forward investment projects like new school buildings
3. Temporarily reverse the Tory-led Government’s VAT rise - a £450 boost for
families with children
4. Cut VAT on home improvements to 5% for a year
5. Give up to 170,000 small firms a tax break to take on extra workers
There is a better way in the West Midlands
Our jobs plan includes
a tax on bank bonuses to fund up to 100,000 jobs for young people; bringing forward longterm
investments in infrastructure like roads and schools; a temporary VAT cut which would
give families with children a boost of around £450; a one year cut in VAT to 5 per cent on
home improvements and repairs to help small businesses; and tax breaks for small businesses
taking on extra workers.
The Tory-led Government refuses to listen to people’s concerns. Far from being the safe haven
George Osborne claims it is, Britain’s recovery was choked off last autumn – well before the
current crisis in the eurozone. We now know that there has been zero growth in our economy for
nine months. Japan is the only G7 country that has grown more slowly over the last year.
The decision by the Bank of England effectively to print more money shows that the
Government’s reckless plan is not working. In fact two years ago the Chancellor George Osborne
said doing this was “the last resort of desperate governments when all other policies have failed.”
But there’s only so much the Bank of England can do on its own. The Government needs to act
too. The real problem is that the Government is cutting spending and putting up taxes too far and
too fast. And the result is that families have been hit hard, the economy has ground to a halt and
more people are now out of work.
Unemployment is at its highest level in 17 years, with over 2.5 million people without a job. One in
five young people are out of work and there are now more women unemployed than any time
since 1988. And while 111,000 jobs have been lost in the public sector in the three months to
June, just 41,000 jobs have been created in the private sector.
Like every other country we’ve got to get our deficit down and that means tough decisions
on tax and spending cuts. But the Government doesn’t seem to understand that more people on
the dole – claiming benefits rather than paying taxes – will just make it harder and harder to get
the deficit down.
The International Monetary Fund has now warned that if things get any worse the Tory-led
Government will have to change course and slow down the cuts and tax rises. Business groups are
also calling on the Government to do more to get the economy growing again.
There is a better way – a real plan for jobs and growth to get our economy moving again and
help get the deficit down in a steadier and more balanced way.
And we must now lay the foundations for a new bargain in the future based on something-forsomething
values which reward responsibility, help us pay our way in the world and fulfil the promise of Britain. If David Cameron and George Osborne really understood how tough things are for families, pensioners and businesses they’d stop sitting on their hands and take action now.
There is a better way
– a real plan for jobs and growth to get our economy moving again and help get
the deficit down in a steadier and more balanced way.
By trying to cut spending and raise taxes too far and too fast this Tory-led Government is getting our
economy into a vicious circle. By choking off the recovery and putting tens of thousands of people
on the dole, claiming benefits rather than paying taxes, the Government will make it harder to get the
deficit down. David Cameron’s austerity plan is hurting, but it isn’t working.
The Tories: Too Far, Too Fast
• The Tory-led Government’s decision to cut the deficit too far and too fast choked off the
economic recovery last autumn - well before the eurozone crisis of recent months.
• In the last nine months the UK economy has not grown at all.
• Over the last year Japan is the only G7 country to grow more slowly than the UK.
• Slower growth and higher unemployment means the Government is now set to borrow
£46 billion more over the next few years.• Unemployment is rising again and is currently
at the highest level in 17 years.
• The number of women unemployed is at its highest level since 1988.
• Almost one million young people are unable to find a job, the highest number since
comparable records began in 1992. But one of the first acts of the Tory-led Government
was to scrap Labour’s Future Jobs Fund which helped young people into work.
• The private sector is failing to fill the gap left by the Government’s public spending cuts
that go too far and too fast. more borrowing £46 billion young people unable to find a job one million
The effect of the Tory-led Government’s cuts in the West Midlands:
• The Tories have scrapped Labour’s Future Jobs Fund which helped 12,090 people in the West
Midlands into jobs.
• The number house building starts fell by 430 in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same
quarter a year ago.
• 234,000 people in the West Midlands are unemployed as of October 2011.
• The Tories have scrapped Advantage West Midlands, the Regional Development Agency for the
area, despite the fact that in the last year of the Labour Government:
- Advantage West Midland’s regionally based and managed venture capital funds made 54
investments, totalling £5.1 million. This levered in £17.4 million of private funds
- Three major low carbon vehicle projects of national significance were launched, and the
region (with the East Midlands) has been recognised as the UK’s Low Carbon Area for
Advanced Automotive Engineering.
This is a really worrying time for families; struggling with higher food prices and gas bills and worried about their jobs and their children’s futures.
There is a better way
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
September enews
September 2011
Walsall South To Contact Valerie: Westminster Office:
Telephone: 020 7219 7176
Email: valerie.vaz.mp@parliament.uk House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Constituency Office:
Telephone: 01922 635835
FUN DAY AT ST MARY’S THE MOUNT
Valerie said: "I was delighted to attend the funfair day and to meet with the nuns who work so tirelessly to support our community." 114a Lichfield Street, Walsall. WS1 1SZ Valerie visited the Funfair Day at St Mary’s the Mount Parish on Saturday 10th September. The Funfair Day was organised by The Daughters of Divine Love in order to raise money for charity. Surgeries Valerie holds regular surgeries. To arrange an appointment, please call the Constituency Office on 01922 635835 For further information, please visit: http://www.valerievazmp.co.uk VALERIE OPPOSES CONTROVERSIAL HEALTH BILL Valerie voted against the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill at its third reading.
Valerie said: "This is a reckless, unnecessary and wasteful reorganisation of the NHS. I have received a very large number of e-mails and letters from constituents on this important issue and I know how concerned local people are about the Government’s proposals.
"The Government’s plans will break up the NHS as a national public service and are fundamen-tally weakening the Health Secretary’s responsibilities. The Bill still contains the essential ele-ments to set the NHS up as a full-scale market based on the model of the privatised utilities.
"I have consistently voted against the Bill and I am very disappointed that it has passed its Third Reading. I will continue to fight against the dismantling of our National Health Service."
MADE BY BRITAIN
On Saturday 10th September, Valerie visited Chuckery-based casting manufacturer Chamberlin and Hill and nomi-nated their turbocharger cast-ings to represent Walsall South in the Made by Britain scheme.
Valerie said: "Having been based here for 121 years, Chamberlin and Hill is a prime example of the best of Wal-sall’s successful manufacturing industry. "
"I am delighted to nominate Chamberlin and Hill’s turbo-charger castings as the product to represent Walsall South in the Made by Britain scheme. In 2010, around 10% of petrol engines were turbocharged. However, by 2015, ap-proximately 80-90% of car petrol engines are expected to be turbocharged. This will enable petrol engines to func-tion more efficiently and reduce emissions."
HEALTH COMMITTEE REPORTS The Health Select Committee, of which Valerie is a mem-ber, published reports into the healthcare regulators Moni-tor and the Care Quality Commission on 14th September 2011.
The Committee’s report on Monitor made it clear that stan-dards for authorising Foundation Trusts should not fall due to increased pressure to become Foundation Trusts.
The report on the CQC criticised a "distortion of priorities" at the organisation, finding that a focus on administrative tasks had been at the expense of the core function of in-spection. The Committee found that this was the result of a lack of sufficiently clear priorities and objectives.
ALL CHANGE WITH BOUNDARIES
The Boundary Commission has published its proposed boundary changes following the Government’s decision to reduce the number of seats in the House of Commons by 50. The West Midlands is set to lose five seats, which Valerie opposes.
Proposals for Walsall South mean that the current wards would be divided between two constituencies, Walsall South and Walsall West– that is over 40% of the current Walsall South split between each of the new constituencies. Bentley & Darlaston North, Darlaston South and Pleck move into Walsall West and Paddock, Palfrey, Pheasey and St Mathews form part of the new Walsall South.
Valerie said: "I am sure that many residents will wish to participate in the public consultation phase. Details are available at
http://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/ "
Valerie Backs Elderly Persons Social Centre Valerie is backing the Palfrey-based Elderly Persons Social Centre entry in the NatWest CommunityForce funding competition. If the cen-tre gains enough votes in an online poll, NatWest will donate £6000 towards its work in the community. To vote for the centre, please visit http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/3515
Valerie said: "I would encourage you to vote for the centre as its work is very important to large number of elderly people in the Palfrey area."
Walsall South To Contact Valerie: Westminster Office:
Telephone: 020 7219 7176
Email: valerie.vaz.mp@parliament.uk House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Constituency Office:
Telephone: 01922 635835
FUN DAY AT ST MARY’S THE MOUNT
Valerie said: "I was delighted to attend the funfair day and to meet with the nuns who work so tirelessly to support our community." 114a Lichfield Street, Walsall. WS1 1SZ Valerie visited the Funfair Day at St Mary’s the Mount Parish on Saturday 10th September. The Funfair Day was organised by The Daughters of Divine Love in order to raise money for charity. Surgeries Valerie holds regular surgeries. To arrange an appointment, please call the Constituency Office on 01922 635835 For further information, please visit: http://www.valerievazmp.co.uk VALERIE OPPOSES CONTROVERSIAL HEALTH BILL Valerie voted against the Government’s Health and Social Care Bill at its third reading.
Valerie said: "This is a reckless, unnecessary and wasteful reorganisation of the NHS. I have received a very large number of e-mails and letters from constituents on this important issue and I know how concerned local people are about the Government’s proposals.
"The Government’s plans will break up the NHS as a national public service and are fundamen-tally weakening the Health Secretary’s responsibilities. The Bill still contains the essential ele-ments to set the NHS up as a full-scale market based on the model of the privatised utilities.
"I have consistently voted against the Bill and I am very disappointed that it has passed its Third Reading. I will continue to fight against the dismantling of our National Health Service."
MADE BY BRITAIN
On Saturday 10th September, Valerie visited Chuckery-based casting manufacturer Chamberlin and Hill and nomi-nated their turbocharger cast-ings to represent Walsall South in the Made by Britain scheme.
Valerie said: "Having been based here for 121 years, Chamberlin and Hill is a prime example of the best of Wal-sall’s successful manufacturing industry. "
"I am delighted to nominate Chamberlin and Hill’s turbo-charger castings as the product to represent Walsall South in the Made by Britain scheme. In 2010, around 10% of petrol engines were turbocharged. However, by 2015, ap-proximately 80-90% of car petrol engines are expected to be turbocharged. This will enable petrol engines to func-tion more efficiently and reduce emissions."
HEALTH COMMITTEE REPORTS The Health Select Committee, of which Valerie is a mem-ber, published reports into the healthcare regulators Moni-tor and the Care Quality Commission on 14th September 2011.
The Committee’s report on Monitor made it clear that stan-dards for authorising Foundation Trusts should not fall due to increased pressure to become Foundation Trusts.
The report on the CQC criticised a "distortion of priorities" at the organisation, finding that a focus on administrative tasks had been at the expense of the core function of in-spection. The Committee found that this was the result of a lack of sufficiently clear priorities and objectives.
ALL CHANGE WITH BOUNDARIES
The Boundary Commission has published its proposed boundary changes following the Government’s decision to reduce the number of seats in the House of Commons by 50. The West Midlands is set to lose five seats, which Valerie opposes.
Proposals for Walsall South mean that the current wards would be divided between two constituencies, Walsall South and Walsall West– that is over 40% of the current Walsall South split between each of the new constituencies. Bentley & Darlaston North, Darlaston South and Pleck move into Walsall West and Paddock, Palfrey, Pheasey and St Mathews form part of the new Walsall South.
Valerie said: "I am sure that many residents will wish to participate in the public consultation phase. Details are available at
http://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/ "
Valerie Backs Elderly Persons Social Centre Valerie is backing the Palfrey-based Elderly Persons Social Centre entry in the NatWest CommunityForce funding competition. If the cen-tre gains enough votes in an online poll, NatWest will donate £6000 towards its work in the community. To vote for the centre, please visit http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/3515
Valerie said: "I would encourage you to vote for the centre as its work is very important to large number of elderly people in the Palfrey area."
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