BBC Panorama and care of elderly scandal

Tonight's BBC Panorama was truely shocking. The lack of care, the lack of time given to vulnerable elderly people in their homes reliant on home care uncovered by this programme means politicians must act.
Minimum standards ignored. Light touch inspections failing. The commissioner/provider model failing. Companies defrauding councils of cash for payments for set hours and carers not turning up due to understaffing. The low paid, desparate staff shown. The pain inflicted on terminally ill or confused patients.
The test of a society is how it treats its elderly and vulnerable and this programme showed that in several areas of the UK, we should be ashamed. How many more areas exist like this?

What makes my blood boil is that on Tuesday, I sat listening to someone in the NHS extolling the view that competition from the market will drive up standards in health care. Well this BBC programme showed contracts given to the lowest bidder, showed examples of awful care and a national charity unable to bid to provide care to the elderly in one council area as the price was so low.

It needs sorting, it needs to be done now and Councils and Government need to remember you often get what you pay for. Would anyone want that shown tonight on their parents?

As postscript, I hope the programme team get an award that was worth the license fee alone and a true public service.

Lib Dem councillor surgery in East Bergholt

Yesterday I joined some of my Lib Dem Babergh councillors who had a coffee morning and councillor surgery in East Bergholt.
2 main issues struck me. Firstly, the need for affordable housing or local needs housing for people within East Bergholt or neighbouring villages to live here. Yet residents who came said the local Parish Council had gone very quiet on the issue. Thankfully, some of the residents had been searching for suitable sites in and around the village. I was struck by how those of a right wing persuasion think that affordable housing will bring problems.
Secondly, the lack of transport integration in this country. Why can't a bus link up with the train at Manningtree station so that commuters to Ipswich, Colchester or London can use the public transport option not always use the car. In a rich economy, is integration not possible or is it because private companies dont talk to each other or the government dont demand it?
Suffolk has pretentions to be the Greenest county. Well, we need to start setting the bar higher and achieving what our European neighbours seem to do easily.

Fuel Poverty Bill fails by 11 votes

Why would MP's not stay on Friday and vote on the Fuel Poverty Bill?
Lib Dem MP David Heath introduced a Bill that would have improved energy efficiency in existing homes, brought in social tariffs for the households vulnerable to exposure to higher fuel bills and reinforced the legal duty on the government to act to end fuel poverty.

In a time of recession, it would have helped with work. In a time of needing to reduce carbon emissions it would have boosted energy efficiency investment. It was a win,win and win Bill.

Very few Labour and even less Conservative MPs turned up. Our Conservative MP did not. I bet there wont be a newspaper column on that little omission.

Sudbury health facility update

The PCT declared at Sudbury Town Council that they hoped to go to tender at the end of May for a preferred developer and by the summer they should have this in place. They confirmed that no Walnuttree beds would close till the new intermediate care teams and the replacement beds in residential/nursing homes were in place. They also confirmed that everything in the Secretary of State's letter on health care provision will be followed so all clinics will remain in Sudbury and then move to the new facility so that Walnuttree and St Leonards can be closed. They also reaffirmed their wish or expectation that a GP practice will be attached to that new facility.
Interestingly, they confirmed that Newmarket are keeping NHS beds in their hospital and getting a minor injuries unit. Why not Sudbury? That is exactly what we wanted?

New Hadleigh Leisure facility

Babergh are wanting to build a new leisure and community facility next door to the existing swimming pool. This will be a £2 million investment. Yet we have hit difficulties about the land as a few people claim it is a town green whereas Babergh believe it is public open space. Unfortunately, the legals may delay this project but last night we got a clear message from the Hadleigh Town Council that they were supportive of the facility and everyone realised that this was the area where a new pool was considered (but unfortunately too expensive) so if a town green claim won then Hadleigh would lose the chance of a new swimming pool too. A market town like Hadleigh deserves quality services for its young people and older generations. So come on people get behind the bid for this new facility.

Updates on Twitter

Babergh District Council are giving updates on Twitter. Thought I would trial it too. Definately more concise than a blog!! If you want to follow the link is on the side menu.

Councillor surgery for local issues

Today we restart our councillor surgeries on local issues/problems. The first Saturday in every month 10.30 - Noon at Sudbury Town Hall. Any issues or council problems please call in and see one of us.