[It must be expensive to live in Chaddesley .. what a good job their parish council has amassed such extensive reserves .. perhaps they could lend some of that money to cash-strapped WFDC (but without, this time, going bankrupt on us) ? _Ed]

"It's a shame, it's a shame, ..
It's a * * * * *. great shame !"

What a great shame it is that Wyre Forest D.C. Leader John Campion has felt the need to submit a motion to the Council, scheduled to meet on Wednesday 24th February, viz. _

“Council reconfirms its commitment to consulting ward Councillors on significant developments within their wards."

·           To reconfirm (v); to add strength to;     
Origin:
1250–1300; < Latin confirmāre to strengthen, confirm:             
r. Middle English confermen < Old French < Latin,

That part's fine and dandy, and we can all agree with it whole-heartedly.
It ought to obviate any future feelings of public disquiet (of which Councillors are merely the conduit) which have arisen over (in this latest incident) the "Clipperty-Clopperty" statute issue.

·           To obviate (v); to anticipate and prevent or eliminate ..
(difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures;
Origin:
1590–1600; < Latin obviātus, ptp. of obviāre to act contrary to, derivative. of obvius

                              _________________________________

The shame is revealed in the second part of the motion .. ..

"Council requests that the Chief Executive ensures that all District Council officers are reminded of existing protocols and policies over the involvement of local ward Councillors in issues pertaining to their ward.”

And this is what gives the game away .. ..

Just WHY would J-P feel the need to have to issue a "reminder" - with the full weight of a Council motion (and, presumably, vote) - the maximum weight that can be thrown behind the administration of Council policy, short of Disciplinary Procedures - if he didn't feel that it was necessary ?

And WHY should he feel that it was necessary ?

Presumably, because he believed that either the said 'District Council officers’ were not doing their jobs .. .. or that they might not doing them properly, or impartially .. .. or they might be 'out-of-control' and interpreting policy as suited them ?       
(Please remember that here we are merely trying to interpret J-P's thoughts .. .. but, should they be voted-on and approved by the Council, they might then be taken as WFDC's considered opinion, as well).

So, "more power to your elbow, J-P" .. .. or not .. .. according to your point-of-view.

PS. A 'shed' is a shed .. and a 'duel' is a duel .. but a 'schedule' is something completely different, even for an American spell-checker.

I know .. .. let's play "Mr. and Mrs."

They're an 'expensive' pair .. Mr. Andrew MacKay, the Conservative MP for Bracknell, has been asked to repay £31,193 - and his wife, Julie, the Tory MP for Bromsgrove, has been asked to pay £29,243 for expenses claimed for their homes.

An appeal by the pair was thrown out during Sir Thomas Legg's review of MPs' expenses as he ruled that the arrangements ..
".. obtained a financial benefit for the couple which appears unintended under the Green Book rules, and as such contrary to the principles governing it. 
You say that the way in which you and your wife designated your homes was in accordance with advice given by the fees office. 
If so it seems to me that the advice was plainly mistaken, and indeed that you should have recognised it to be mistaken."

Mr. MacKay and Mrs. MacKay were each overpaid £29,243 under their second home allowances.

Mr. MacKay claimed on the property they shared in London.
He also exceeded the cleaning allowance by £1,950 - 
                                                        - but he has re-paid the £31,193 in full.

Mrs. MacKay has paid just £1,811 towards her £29,243 total.

Ride-a-"Cox" hos' to Ho'sefair, of cos'
T'see Marcus and Howard argue abart a white Hos'

Yes, Folks; ..            Roll-up, roll-up ! ..          All the Fun of the Fair !

People will be coming to Kidderminster from Banbury to see which Councillor eventually sits on top of the - already infamous - 'White Horse of Kidderminster' - that wanted / unwanted, democratic / arbitrary, consultative / underhand, public / private,  piece of 'Art' .. that no-one's seen .. .. so far !

[I bet that Cox Homes (of the Percy Cox Group, you've a "very 'flash' website there, Percy), who are funding this little venture, wish they could wash their hands of the ''bad' publicity the whole business is bringing them _Ed]

£12,000
Twelve Thousands of Pounds !
It obviously 'pays' to be an artist in these 'cash-strapped' times

Just think what that money could do for the Wyre Forest students who have found that their training company Advent has gone into liquidation this week, leaving them with debts to Barclays Bank, no exam and no qualifications.

Fortunately, Kidderminster College are 'on-the-job' and are aware of who is in difficulties - and are investigating with Barclays what practical help they can give.

Cllr. Howard Martin clearly understands the use of the equine metaphor when he is quoted as saying, 
          "Cllr. Marcus Hart is 'clearly off-the-pace, locally' .. "
and Cllr. Marcus Hart somewhat gives the game away by saying, 
          "I'm pretty staggered .."

[As all 'Kings of the Turf' are aware, NEVER put your money on a nag with 'the staggers' _Ed]

'Heartlands' Hospitals Coded RED by Monitor

The Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham, Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield and Solihull Hospital is said to be in significant breach of its terms of authorisation.

The Trust has been coded red by Monitor, the organisation which polices foundation hospitals, as at governance risk - and could have board members removed if it does not improve - having failed to reach the target for keeping people waiting too long in its accident and emergency departments.

Monitor remains concerned about the trust's ability to make the cultural and behavioural changes necessary. Governance arrangements would seem not to be 'up-to-the-job' of dealing with_

• The repeated failure to deliver to target during winter periods
         There was a high number of unnecessary A&E visits because of patients
          lack of faith in GP out of hours services.

• Persistent poor performance at Heartlands and Good Hope despite the time of year
         Emergency patients stay 8.9 days on average - when the national average
         for 2008-9 is 5.7 days.
         The plan for 2010-12 will be to reduce this to 6.2 days and bring bed
          occupancy levels down.

• A delay in identifying long stays in hospital as a key issue

• Lack of evidence that non-executive directors challenge and hold the management team to account.

There will now have to be a monthly submission of performance data and action-plan updates.

"We will need to look together at our proposals for satisfying Monitor on our four-hour performance targets and agree a way forward. There is an expectation on the trust to improve its performance in quarter four and there is no time to lose ”
Medical director Ian Cunliffe

There was an urgent meeting at Solihull Hospital on Wednesday evening (03/02/10) which Governors and senior staff were expected to attend.

What's "Sauce for the Goose" .. ..
.. .. is not necessarily "Sauce for the Gander"

Faced with a budget situation which would give cause for company directors to consider insolvency, NHS Worcestershire has produced plans to merge five community hospitals in Worcestershire with the acute hospitals and mental health trusts.

Hospitals that could be affected are in Bromsgrove, Evesham, Pershore, Malvern and Tenbury.

Paul Bates, chief executive of NHS Worcestershire comments, assertively - 
"I hope it will affect patient care by making it better. 
That is the intention of this government initiative, which is about improving community health services across the country."

However, Dr Richard Taylor, Wyre Forest MP, and a man with a life-time's experience in working in local hospitals, said government plans to merge community and acute hospitals in Worcestershire could leave non-emergency patients worse off.

"Certainly if they combined trusts together it would save money, but it would not necessarily protect the services or be good for patients in the long run. 
If the acute trust was short of money for emergency services, there would be a real risk to the community services that it was having to pay for out of its budget."

Access the BBC Hereford & Worcester article on this subject
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hereford/worcs/8494642.stm

"My understanding is that so far, this is only a Government proposal to divest Primary Care Trusts from their providing role, so that they can concentrate on commissioning. 
It would probably be a disaster if the Community Hospitals were merged with the Acute Trust and I will have to make this clear during the consultation which - as far as I am aware - there will have to be."

Lord Digby Jones the guest of honour at the
Mayor's Lunch for the Business Community

With representatives of the Wyre Forest business community being entertained at Chaddesley Corbett's Brockencote Hall Hotel, the Mayor of Kidderminster's guest speaker was Digby Marritt (Lord) Jones, (styled) Baron Jones of Birmingham. 

The former Director of the CBI (2000–06) and Minister of State for Trade (2007–08), is currently a Business Ambassador at UK Trade & Investment, a role he takes very seriously - in addition to many other business and charity activities.

Although invited to join the government as a GOAT (Government Of All the Talents) he very much retained and relishes his independence, sitting as a Cross-bencher in the House of Lords.

Lord Jones said that he identified with Dr. Richard Taylor as a similar "independent voice" - without the ties and constraints which inhibit much of modern politics - 'where the politik-ing inhibits "good" government'.

Lord Jones spoke of the challenge presented to the UK from the future potential of China and of India when those countries convert from hand-to-mouth, agrarian economies to full-scale, 'western-style' cultures.
He advanced the theory of a 'progressive western expansion', citing the development of America in the C19th and Japan and Korea in the C20th - and the analogy of the present Chinese Pacific sea-board development being emulated by adjoining western provinces.
Firstly there are jobs providing infra-structure (construction); then factories (manufacturing); then facility jobs (banking & finances); and then support jobs (service industries).
Each of these phases follows the "frontier" across the country, as it marches westwards (as the 'wild west' crossed America from the Mississippi to California).

Delegates were then presented with the question as to how we, in Wyre Forest, are to take advantage of this knowledge.
It was an excellent lunch and a thought-provoking presentation .. and one which also made a sizeable contribution to the Mayor's sponsored charities.

Kidderminster Mayor Howard Martin said 
“We were all very honoured to have had such a lively and entertaining speaker as Lord Jones address us. 
The event was well received by those present and over £250 was raised for my Charities. 
I am extremely grateful to the business community for their generous support and to Brockencote Hall for their excellent food and service.”

29th January 2010

Proposed Closure of the Stourport Royal Mail Delivery Office

Dr Taylor first heard of this proposal at his Christmas visit to Royal Mail on 18th December 2009. 
He wrote immediately to the Chief Executive of Royal Mail requesting “details of the cost savings of this move, as it appears to me the costs of moving this service and its staff to Kidderminster , with associated transport costs, must be considerable”. 
He also asked for confirmation that “customers of Royal Mail are not going to be disadvantaged in any way by the loss of the local delivery facility and whether or not it is going to lead to redundancies among staff”.

Dr Taylor said: 
“As serious concerns about this proposal have been raised directly with me and Health Concern councillors I have written again to the Chief Executive asking for a response to my first letter. 
If answers to my questions are unobtainable or unsatisfactory I will help local people and their elected councillors, businesses and staff in fighting the proposals.”

Dr Taylor had a meeting with Dave Jones, the Wolverhampton representative of the Communication Workers’ Union on 26 January who said
“We are here today to campaign on behalf of the Save the Stourport Delivery Office. We must maintain public services within the town. 
The Stourport Delivery Office is one of the most efficient in the area and across the DY postcode. 
To close it would be detrimental to customer services in the Town”

Should the Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham be re-named 
“The South Stafford”?

The Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both Heartlands and Sutton Coldfield’s Good Hope hospitals, has had six patients die following serious errors with medication since 2006.
BBC disclosure.

Four deaths have already been made public – and two further deaths have yet to receive publicity.
This information is contained in a report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) into 27 "serious untoward issues" at the trust between March 2007 and June 2009.

The trust identified a cluster of serious, untoward incidents within the paediatric service and commissioned an external review by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

A number of recommendations following several serious, untoward incidents had not been signed off, despite the date of completion having lapsed; and in a seventh medical error, a baby was also over-medicated at Heartlands Hospital (fortunately the baby survived unharmed).

·        Eg. Stephen Parkin, died in May 2006, after having wrongly been given a muscle relaxant which was in the wrong box and should not have been on the ward.

·        Eg. Two patients, Paul Richards and Baljit Singh Sunner, died in 2007, after having they were given five times the recommended dose of a fungal treatment, amphotericin.

·        Eg. Rosemary Mcfarlane died in 2008 after receiving ten times the concentration of a phosphate solution poured into her lungs.

“We deeply regret that these incidents occurred and would again like to apologise to the patients and relatives of those affected ”         
Lisa Dunn, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust

The CQC report states the trust now has robust governance arrangements in place and a clear mechanism to investigate and learn from the incidents that occur.       
"On the basis of the information provided, the commission does not have any immediate concerns relating to the safety of patients and will close the case."

MP Meets Post Office Depot Campaigners

Dateline: Tuesday 26th January.

Today, Wyre Forest MP, Richard Taylor met with representatives of the campaign to save the Stourport Postal depot. 

UCW officers and activists are to visit the House of Commons to lobby ministers representing both the West Midlands and Postal Services and will also hold talks with Richard Taylor.

These meetings were arranged last week when ICHC leader 
Cllr. Howard Martin attended and addressed a meeting at the Wheatsheaf Pub in Stourport of all the Post Office staff affected by the threatened closure.

“Richard was already well aware of the threat” said Cllr Martin.

“He has been working quietly behind the scenes, as is his usual style, for some weeks now to make progress on this matter. 
Before Christmas he met with local senior Post Office Management and discussed the issues in detail. 
He has been promised a copy of the final business case when it becomes available. 
Local Union Representatives and all staff know they have his full support and that of all of us in ICHC over this matter.”

Cllr. Martin went on.. 
“It seems a little sad that it is widely reported that the Tory Prospective Parliamentary Candidate is now claiming he is leading the campaign. 
This is no more than fanciful electioneering on his part and is unworthy of someone who wants to be taken seriously as fit to represent this area. 

The Tories, despite being invited, were not present at last week’s important meeting. 

Now that this campaign obviously has massive public support they want to jump on the bandwagon for party purposes and claim leadership. 
The campaign is being superbly managed by the union guys and all political parties in the area should stand with them and support them in this fight. 

Turning it into a Party political issue could seriously damage the UCW campaign and it shows inexperience and naivety by the local Tories in this attempt. 
The Union are the best suited and most experienced to lead on this and we should collectively support them.”

So many Bans .. you'd think someone was getting married !

A BAN on the use of mobile phones could be introduced at meetings of Wyre Forest District Council as members of the council’s ethics and standards committee are expected to agree to recommend the ban to full council at their meeting on Wednesday 27th, at 6pm in the Earl Baldwin Suite, Duke House, Kidderminster

According to a committee report: 
“Members were particularly concerned about members and officers who used their mobile phones to send text messages during committee meetings and the possible effect on public perception particularly with regard to regulatory meetings. 
There were also concerns about members texting during consideration of exempt items of business.”

It is already a requirement of the council’s constitution that meetings should not be photographed and no video or sound recording should take place, unless the chairman consents otherwise.
                       _____________________________________

Also, it would stop some councillors playing games on them - instead of listening to the debate."
ICHC Cllr. Howard Martin                       _____________________________________

Tweets sent during a Cornwall Council meeting into councillors' allowances and housing included: 

• "naughty boy!", 
• "high level of accidental sexual innuendo in the council today", 
• "she said phones must be switched off. (I love that we're completely ignoring that instruction)" and 
• "chairman indirectly instructs us not to tweet from the meeting. Whoops!"

"I can't see anything that was inappropriate," - County councillor Alex Folkes.

A council statement said: "Employees or councillors using social networking sites to send inappropriate messages could be referred to the standards committee. The Council is currently developing a social media policy to cover the use of social media sites such as facebook, Myspace, Twitter and YouTube."

Stourport Post-Office Delivery Office
Under Threat!

Plans are emerging that could see the Post Office Delivery Depot in Stourport closed and its 30 locally based staff moved to Kidderminster. 
There is growing concern within the UCW (Union of Communication Workers) local branch that_

• decisions are being taken on purely cost cutting grounds 

• without proper consultation 

• without the consideration of the quality of service to residents in the area covered by this depot.

So far, despite local pressure, no business plan has been provided and Post Office management say it will not be available “until the time is right – it is currently being scoped * .” 

* Scoped: to figure out - 
'By the time we'd scoped the problem, it was too late'
Slang expression; 1525–35; from Italian scopo, from Greek skopós. 
aim, mark, to shoot at; akin to skopeîn, to look at.
[This hardly gives one confidence in their management-systems_Ed]

However, no input has been invited from the local depot staff or their representatives. 
The concern is that the staff will be presented with a “fait accompli” and discussions will only be offered on implementation, not the viability or consequence of the proposals_

• Staff based in Stourport will be moved to Kidderminster Depot from where all deliveries of Stourport post will commence. 

• Since all but a handful of staff live in Stourport this will mean them travelling from Stourport to Kidderminster to sort and collect the post, travelling back to Stourport to deliver it and returning to Kidderminster to complete the shift. 

• Since many local staff do not currently drive to work (they use bikes or walk) the extra road miles travelled every day will be many thousands each year. 
  This despite the Post Office's pledge to reduce its carbon foot print. 

• Deliveries in Stourport will be delayed by the extra travel involved.

However the major concern relates to_

• the drop in quality of service which will be offered to Stourport residents and businesses,

• domestic deliveries will be considerably delayed and depleted,

• local businesses that currently have the facility to collect bulk mail from the depot will be denied that option, 

• will have to drive to Kidderminster to collect their own post if they want post before delivery by normal means.

At a mass meeting of staff and senior local union reps in the Wheatsheaf pub on 20th January it was unanimously agreed that a forceful campaign would be mounted in support of retention of the current facility.

ICHC Leader, Howard Martin, who was invited to attend, was asked to address the meeting.

He said that ICHC were convinced that this was another local service which needed to be retained for the public at the point-of-need and that the decision about its future should not be solely based on saving money - but should focus on the needs of the community. 
The Post Office provided an invaluable public service and its quality must be kept high. 
The community should be strongly involved in the campaign. 

He pledged full support of ICHC and informed the meeting that the MP Richard Taylor was also totally in support and was already addressing the issues both locally and in Whitehall.

Potential 'Danger Spot' being dealt with 

PACT (Partners And Communities Together) - West Mercia

Stourport Town Councillors, ICHC's John Thomas, and Ken Henderson, have succeeded in raising the potentially dangerous parking of cars at Arley Kings as a PACT priority item.

The junction of Princess Way and Cheshire Avenue, which is already a narrow area, is being blocked by inconsiderate parking; inconveniencing local residents, and adding further obstruction to the routes of emergency vehicles.

Sgt. Jan. Shore of the Stourport local policing team acknowledges past problems with parking near St. Bartholomew's school but is determined that the junction will be monitored closely in future.

"Motorists will be advised if they are seen parking there .. and fixed penalty notices can be issued if warnings are not heeded.
We would also ask residents to note the registration numbers of cars parking there and to contact the local policing team when they see it happening.
            Local Policing Team number .. 01562  82 82 91
We will be consulting with County Highways as to what other  action can be taken."

     areleyandlickhill.lpt@westmercia.pnn.police.uk

"For several years after becoming MP, I received awful complaints about the quality of care some patients were receiving at the hospital in Worcester. My great frustration and disappointment was that despite passing these to the chief executive of the Acute Trust (and in some cases to the Healthcare Commission) improvements did not occur - as judged by the continued complaints which I received.

I then discovered that some GPs were so dissatisfied with the quality of care in Worcester that they were, out of choice, referring patients to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley. With the then chairman of the local GPs association I talked to the chief executive and medical director of the Dudley Trust, with two objectives:
        1. to place a real challenge on our own trust to improve services..
        2. if improvements did not result, to investigate the possibility of Wyre forest
            patients regularly using Russells Hall
The chief executive of our trust knew of my discussions and my motives.

As a direct result of this (and the dire warnings of the 'Stafford disaster') the acute trust looked at the 'Safer Patient Initiative' (to which I drew the chief executive's attention - from the Health Select committee's report on 'Patient Safety') and appointed one of their consultants as "clinical director for safety".

So far, complaints to me have decreased in number (though not in significance).

So, as I believe quality and safety are improving at Worcester - and as our Acute Trust has recently scored more highly than the Dudley Trust, I am no longer looking for moves of patients towards Dudley .. as I thought I had made clear."

Dr. Richard Taylor MP

Nigel Knowles 'clings' to the 'Single Issue' issue 

Dr. Howard Eeles.
ICHC Cllr.
14th January 2010

Editorial

It was edifying to read Mark Garnier's letter in The Shuttle (14/01/2010) in which he laid-out the options for Wyre Forest voters, with clarity; paying, at the same time, deserved praise to his political opponents.

We trust that this sets the tone for the forthcoming campaign(s) and that fellow supporters will adhere to these fair-minded ideals.

No 'Vicar of Bray' for Wyre Forest voters 

Scene from Act II: Opera of the same name: 
the "Pas de Cinq", 1892 at the Savoy Theatre

What a good read the paper was this week, with a Wyre Forest resident reminding us (and Nigel Knowles, in particular) of the over-riding reason that the local voters rejected a Junior Minister - David Lock (together with his 'safe' majority).

Blind adherence to the 'Party Line' .. (possibly) in order to achieve personal preferment .. will NOT be accepted by North - Worcestershire folk.
                    ________________________________________

"The Vicar of Bray" is a satirical 18th century song which recounts the career of the priest of Bray, Berkshire, and his changes of principle in order to retain his ecclesiastic position amid the alternations of politics and 'preferred' religions through the course of several monarchs: Charles II, James II, William III, Mary II, Anne, to George I.

Lyrics and melody

More are appearing than usual this year as water penetrates the asphalt surface of a road through cracks caused by traffic. Then, when temperatures plunge, the water freezes, expands and causes the surface to rupture. Then the ice melts, and it leaves a void below the surface, which caves in under the stress of vehicles and eventually forms a pothole.
"Snow and ice are the worst weather conditions for exacerbating existing road defects, due to the repetition of the freeze-thaw process."
Geoff French, vice president of the Institute of Civil Engineers

Buckinghamshire Council has already begun this vital work and is sending out six extra teams to repair potholes in the road, at a cost of £3,000 a week for each team. If the repairs aren't done immediately, it could cost even more cash in the future when the holes get bigger.
"They will first of all work on a three-week programme and then probably we will be extending that. Long-term, preventative road maintenance is needed to properly address existing defects, rather than short-term "quick fixes".

Based on current local authority budgets it would take an estimated 13 years to clear the backlog of pothole repairs in England and 15 years in Wales, says ICE (calculations based on 2009 figures from the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey).

During the cold snap in February last year there was an estimated 40% increase in road damage (AA). Its insurance branch received more than three times as many claims for pothole damage than the same month the year before.

Local authorities are urging people to report potholes.
This can usually be done via the council website.
There are also a number of other websites offering advice on dealing with and reporting potholes, including potholes.co.uk and fixmystreet.com.

Which option takes priority - in an emergency ?

Your "loyalty" to a hospital with the word 'Worcestershire'  in its name ?
or
Your need for the highest standards of surgery and medical care

ICHC Cllr. Howard Martin replies to a letter published in The Shuttle 07/01/10

Wow Fran - strong stuff. However, isn't the point that Worcs. Acute Trust is there to serve the community - not the other way round? 
And don't patients have a right to choose where they want to be treated and where they think they will get the best medical attention? 

Worcs. already sends heart patients to QE in B'ham or Walsgrave in Coventry and Cancer patients to New Cross and Gloucester because it can't be good at everything.

Centres of excellence are both government and opposition favoured options for patient choice. 
If I need hospital in-patient treatment I will opt for where I will get the best treatment and not for "loyalty" to Worcs! 

Doctors already have that choice and already opt for favoured options over Worcs. 
A recent high profile case indicates that Worcs is 'turnround' and 'performance' driven - 
rather then guided by obvious medical need - not very inspirational is it?

Also this attack on Richard Taylor is clearly politically motivated and unworthy. 

After all, isn't Jan Adams also a Tory Bewdley Town Councillor? [Link]

[And the 'Fran' in question might be Wyre Forest District Councillor for Offmore and Comberton, Liberal, Mrs. Fran Oborski [Link]-Ed]

Are you "AWARE" ?

An awareness campaign is being launched on January 4, following-on from previous anti-burglary drives under the code name "Operation Protect" run by West Mercia Police, last April and October.

To help spread the message, Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators across Wyre Forest are being provided with ultra violet pens to mark their property.
These will then be passed-on to other members of their local schemes so that they can do the same. 
Items should be marked with_ 

• your Postcode, 
• house number and 
• name.

Milbrook Appeal passed half-way point !

With an anonymous donation of £20,000pushing the Millbrook Suite Appeal past £150,00 towards its £¼M. target Kidderminster Mayor, Howard Martin, reiterates his pledge that this appeal will remain part of his 'charity pledge' for his mayoral term.

"I have already told people that a proportion of any money that they give to the fund will go to the Millbrook Suite, and that I will carry-on supporting it.
I will talk to the League of Friends and the Millbrook Staff and see how they think the money should be spent.
This money will provide extras that may not have been available in the initial target."

"We are so grateful to the community for raising this money in such a short time.
We never expected it to be achieved this quickly !"
David Wase, League Chairman.

"It was amazing how quickly events were organised after the appeal started !
Sister Rachel Desogus.

Present Total collected .. £164,012.00

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC)

The (Ever-Enthusiastic) Over-Enthusiastic 
Parliamentary Candidate
(the Liberal-Democrat type)

Since the drastic downgrading of the hospital, Health Concern, led by Dr Taylor, has fought tooth and nail to have as many services as realistically possible returned to Kidderminster.
As far as A&E is concerned, we have managed to persuade the Acute Trust management to provide a doctor in the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU).
This type of unit can deal with many simple injuries such as straight forward uncomplicated fractures but lacks the facilities to cover serious accidents.
The doctor led unit only operates between the hours 9.00am to 5.00 PM so after these hours most accidents have to go to the Royal Worcestershire Acute Hospital, although it continues with nurse cover.
We have argued at length with the Trust to extend the doctors hours in the MIU to evenings and nights when GP surgeries close down and would likely to be of much more benefit to the community and save inconvenience to the public in time and travel, and allowing for more prompt attention to their injuries.

Yours sincerely,
Cllr Howard Eeles
Independent Community & Health Concern - Wyre Forest District Councillor

"Scrooge ! .. Stay away from Our Door !"

This week's Shuttle carries a letter from Dr. Howard Eeles, I.C.H.C. - councillor for that most democratic of wards .. Habberley and Blakebrook (they have one Independent, one Labour and one Conservative .. why, they've nearly got the complete set ! ..) - who tells us, in a timely manner, of the potential threats to local health services brought about by the Acute Trust carrying a £5,000,000 deficit in the current financial year.

This is before the forecast swinging cut-backs in public funding which the Government have "promised us" as their "Christmas present" .. in spite of all that Nigel Knowles would have us believe.

Following their failure to re-new the successful Private Operating Contract for the Treatment Centre in Kidderminster Hospital .. they may now be casting their baleful, money-sucking eyes [sounds like someone from Mordor] on the M.I.U. (Minor Injuries Unit) - where at present there is only sufficient cash to pay the doctors for a weekday, daytime shift, so closing the place at night and the weekend when it could easily be of greater benefit to the community.

Closing this Unit would mean, once again, we would face that diabolical trek both to AND FROM the dreaded Worcs. A&E .. if you can ever find somewhere to park.

Touch Our Hospital ?

Bahh, .. HUMBUG !!

Simon .. Don't try to "fix it" !

Isn't it "Good News" that the ISTC (Independent Sector Treatment Centre) at Kidderminster Hospital has done so well ?

Since it opened, five years ago, some 8,500 'orthopedic procedures' 
[that's 'operations' to you and me] 
have been carried-out and waiting times for an outpatient appointment have been reduced to just three weeks !

But the initial contract was only for 5 years .. and it concludes after January 2010 .. just one month away.
Concern has been expressed that what comes next is EQUALLY AS GOOD .. IF NOT BETTER.

"I have not had a single complaint about the ISTC .. only compliments.

My fear is that ..under a replacement regime.. the same number of operations will not be done.

I want a guarantee that the same number OR MORE of hip and knee replacements are going to be done locally.
This is because, before ISTC, there was no indication that local orthopedic surgeons were going to do anything like this at Kidderminster ! "
Dr. Taylor. MP

Surely Simon Hairsnape  (director of delivery at NHS Worcestershire)  should have in mind that old adage which we all know so well ..

"If it ain't broke ... ... DON'T FIX IT !"

Simon can be contacted at:
NHS Worcestershire, Ground Floor, West Wing, 
Wildwood, Wildwood Drive, Worcester WR5 2LG
Telephone: 01905 760104
Email: Simon.Hairsnape@worcestershire.nhs.uk

'British Sugar' site .. Still NO PROGRESS

ICHC Cllr. Dixon Sheppard (Lixhill) has expressed concern about the future development of the former British Sugar site, now that the economic downturn seems to have put developers' plans for the regeneration of the area onto the 'back burner'.

"This is a prime industrial site .. and I don't want it wasted."
He admonished the Council .. 
"I appreciate that we are in the middle of a recession but I don't want the council to take their eyes off the ball !"

The Council are presently "in bed" on this development with Cill Dara Property Partners Limited - Isle of Man - which is a particularly elusive company if you ever try to find out anything about them using the conventional internet search programs.
[But then, the Council are obviously just a confident of doing business with them as they were with Glitnir and Landsbanki, or whoever it was_Ed]

Of course, if you really wanted to know more about them, probably the best person to ask would be Cllr. Alwyn Davies, who declared that he was sponsored for Dinner at Stone Manor Hotel on 15 July 2008 by Cill Dara 
["Good Man"_Ed].
Cllr. Davies sits on the Planning & Regulatory committee .. so he really is the man 'in-the-know'.

District Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration, Councillor Stephen Clee [described in The Shuttle as "Conservative" .. but we're sure that he's far more out-going and exuberant than that_Ed]
has described how his options are "limited" and, having 'zoned' it, there's basically nothing else that he can do.

News from the all-vibrant,
District Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration Councillor .. "Who .. ?"
(our local challenger to the more famous, re-generating, Dr. Who)

District Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration Councillor Stephen Clee has told us all of his delight at receiving a grant from the (Labour) government.
[Steady-on there, Stephen; it's just our own money being returned to us .. !_Ed]

In any case, all 50 awards to local authorities add-up to the measly total of £2,600,000 (£2.6m) .. that's just £52,000 to each authority .. so its hardly generous.
Then consider this: out of all those 50, nationwide, cash-strapped, low-achieving, help-requiring authorities .. Wyre Forest is one of them !
And Worcester City and Redditch are another two !!
[So we're not doing very well, then, in Worcestershire; are we .. ?_Ed]

District Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration Councillor Stephen Clee apologises that the total 'pot' for his regeneration exercise was a paltry £30,000 .. so, obviously, he's VERY pleased to receive the scraps from a 'rich' government's table.

District Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration Councillor Stephen Clee tells us that he's maintaining "Kidderminster.. as ..a vibrant Town Centre" .. and then goes on to tell us that "the frontages.. in Worcester Street.. look shabby and neglected"

District Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration Councillor Stephen Clee also tell us all the things that this money is going to do, here, in Wyre Forest.
It's going to "kick start .. prominent town centre sites" where "several major stores close(d) in prominent locations"
[But, Stephen; if established stores, in the best locations, can't make a profit in these economic circumstances, who's going to ..?_Ed]

District Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration Councillor Stephen Clee is also keen to tell us how all these areas will completely change their character, 
[Is that a "good" thing ..? Do we want that to happen ..?_Ed]
to become "a more vibrant feeling locality"; where "a few prominent locations that will benefit from this grant" will receive "important knock on effects for these streets" so that they "can have sustainability and vibrancy".

Perhaps we wouldn't be in this position if we were able to put our hands on the Millions of Pounds of Wyre Forest money which was so thoughtfully and safely invested in Icelandic Banks .. against the prevailing professional advice.
[Remember our earlier articles, Stephen ..?_Ed]
________

Here's a little Quiz. Which definition do you think the District Cabinet Member .. OK, I'll stop .. has in mind for our Kidderminster streets ?

The National Flood Forum National Conference   
Building Resilience through Partnership
February  25th 2010, Birmingham

Diary Date – could you please note this date in your diary and pass this on to colleagues

The aim of this conference is to provide a unique platform for those who are at risk of being flooded to meet, share experience and best practice with professionals from the flood risk management sector. It will also explore how politicians will respond to their plans for effective flood management for the future.

The objectives of the conference are to:

•    Publicise and promote the views of individuals and communities that have been affected by flooding
•    To hear the views flood risk management professionals charged with managing flooding and to enable these view to be explored by those who have been affected by flooding
•    To understand the position of the major parties leading up to the election in terms of their positions on policies and delivery after the election

To see more view the programme

If you would like to sponsor this event please contact Amanda Davies at amanda.davies@floodforum.org.uk 01299 403101 or Bob Earll bob.earll@coastms.co.uk 01531 890415

Booking:  You can book and pay online with a credit card at http://www.coastms.co.uk/conferences/432 or pay by credit card over the phone, BACSs, cheque etc; we issue invoices and receipts. Please email or fax the booking form to 01531 890415 or bob.earll@coastms.co.uk

"A mockery and a sham !"

Dr. Taylor tells Worcestershire Men ..
"..Don't suffer in silence .. !"

Local ICHC MP Dr. Richard Taylor has added his support to a campaign highlighting a prostate problem affecting more than a third of men aged over 50.

Just as the Tories form the 'Opposition' at Westminster, our 'Independent Community and Health Concern' party provide people in the Wyre Forest with a voice to question Tory tactics and provide coherent alternative proposals.

At the County Elections the Conservative Party candidates received 12,500 votes.
[Good for them_Ed]

'Independent Community and Health Concern' received some 
10,000 votes 
(a significant increase from last year)
[Very Good for Us_Ed]

All other parties combined received some 6,000 votes.
[Not so good for them_Ed]

Ours, therefore, is the Party to which people look to provide balance, scrutiny, and sensible alternative policy.

[And boy .. do they get it !_Ed]

To read any of the documents listed below, please click on their date. NEWSLETTERS Dr. Taylor's Newsletters to his Constituency, written from Westminster ~ His latest letter is about ~ * * * * Solving Constituency matters  Foley Park Primary Adjournment Debate Private Members Bill                                                         7 January Parliament resumes 14 January Health Select Committee 21 January My Private Members Bill 28 January Post Office campaign 04 February A busy week 11 February What a disaster! 18 February Local problems 25 February W.M. Select Committee 4 March Constituency matters For Newletters during the year(s) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005,  2006,  2007, 2008 & 2009 - see the <History> section of this web NHS NEWS 2010 will bring with it_ KIDDERMINSTER_ a new on-site MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner) in mid-year.. followed by a new Fracture Clinic service REDDITCH More (much needed) car-parking.. followed by an improved entrance and reception WORCESTER a new MRI scanner.. another CT scanner.. an Occupational Health centre.. followed by a Breast Service clinic Extra advice on getting to Worcester Royal Hospital Worcs.C.C. (that's the County Council, not the Cricket Club) are extending their Park and Ride schemes. One convenient site (for those of us driving from the north of the county) is at SIXWAYS - just off M5, Junction 6. The W2 bus runs from there via the Hospital every 10 minutes between 07:00 and 19:00, every week day. For fare details: Visit;  e-mail,  or ring 01905 765 765 No to I.D. Campaign - pledge • I shall not register for a national identity card • I shall not supply personal details or fingerprints to a National Identity Register • I shall not apply for any document or service if joining the National Identity Register is a condition of obtaining it • I shall not co-operate with any Identity and Passport Service interview concerning my identity . I also promise by my example to encourage others to do the same. Download the latest Patients' Association Newletter Download the WYRE FOREST MATTERS .pdf bi-monthly bulletin [August 2009 issue] Tackling fuel poverty and reducing CO2 emissions Welcome to Worcestershire.com Surviving the Recession LAA Reward Grant Wyre Forest Community Trust (WFCT) Health & Well-being in Wyre Forest Wyre Young Advisors Those concerned about Flooding Problems and Issues might like to know about_ Go to their site to read their latest newletter (written before the floods in Cumbria) http://www.floodforum.org.uk The National Flood Forum Old Snuff Mill Warehouse, Park Lane, Bewdley, Worcs. DY12 2EL 01299 403 101 WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO PROPER MEDICAL CARE WITHIN REASONABLE REACH Back to Homepage

© Independent Kidderminster Hospital & Health Concern 1995-2010
(webdesign@chaddesley-corbett.co.uk)