11 March, 2004

Today we will welcome Stephen Ladyman MP, the junior Health Minister with responsibility for the West Midlands on his visit to the Treatment Centre at our hospital.

I have already pressed local managers to present this as a return of some services to Kidderminster.
As it will provide day case and short stay inpatient procedures that were done at the hospital before downgrading, it will not go down well if attempts are made to present it as something new. One stop clinics which have been available at our hospital for years are expected to continue, provided adequate pathology back-up is arranged.

New ways of providing the services include the separation of routine work from emergencies so cancellations should be avoided and with the Centre’s large capacity for elective work it will provide services for people from other areas.

I will watch carefully to make sure Wyre Forest and South Shropshire residents are not disadvantaged by use of the Centre for people from elsewhere.

I will press for the expected expansion of elective surgery to include hip and knee replacement and prostate operations for patients who are otherwise fit.

We are working on the case for enhanced emergency provision which is our next goal, essential for ourselves and to ease the pressure on the emergency services in Worcester.

On Tuesday, during an Opposition Day debate on young people and democracy, I had a chance to join in the support for reducing the voting age to 16 and to draw attention to some things that put people off voting now.

• The first is the lack of openness in Government well rehearsed during the preceding debate on publishing the Attorney General’s advice on the legality of the war in Iraq; the second is the Government’s tactic not to make concessions during a Bill’s progress through the Commons so that it will be in a strong position for bargaining over Lords’ amendments.

I likened this to the behaviour of a second-hand car salesman about to haggle before settling a deal.

• Another killer for public interest in politics is the derailing of sensible debate on an issue by irrelevant matters. This happened in the foundation hospitals debate when party politics and the unassailable supremacy of the Commons over the Lords were made into the issues for debate. I also believe that politicians’ inability to perform U turns and to apologise when things have gone wrong is another turn-off.

Good news for those with defunct TVs, fridges and other unwanted electrical goods! 

There is a new service to be provided free from early April by The Network (Worcestershire) for disposal and where possible refurbishment of such equipment to prolong its lifecycle. 

The reconditioned equipment will then be available for sale at their showroom. A limited collection service is available now. 
Phone number : 01562 69484.