17 March, 2005

This Saturday will be crunch time for the Harriers. As most people know victory against Rushden and Diamonds is vital to our survival prospects in the League. The Harriers are to be congratulated on their vastly improved run of performances recently and on the recent accolade in the national press for the quality of the half-time soup for fans described as a dense and pungent broth that would give Delia Smith a run for her money if there was a football hospitality award for fans. I hope the demands for the soup this weekend will be unprecedented from a huge crowd of supporters.

I had to decide last Thursday whether to stay in London to support the Opposition and Labour rebels on the need for amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Bill or to catch the last train home to be in Kidderminster in time for the vital publicity event for Patient Forums on Friday.

I chose the latter knowing that my one vote in London would make no difference to the outcome as the only effective resistance to the Bill was coming from the House of Lords. Throughout the night of Thursday and until Friday afternoon, the majorities in the House of Commons never slipped below 82, so my decision was justified.

Members of our Primary Care Trust Patient Forum are to be congratulated for organising the publicity Health Train on the Severn Valley Railway that was such a success. Over twenty community organisations took part with the County’s Patient Forums and students from Kidderminster College and King Charles I School who helped with a questionnaire about health issues. There were 300-400 people on the train and the opportunities for people to learn about the work of Patient Forums and of the participating organisations was excellent. 

It is difficult to pick out any of these vital help groups but at the risk of being unfair I have to mention three : 

• Age Concern’s Handy Person Services which by telephoning 01562 827788 will help older people with simple DIY tasks that they cannot do themselves for a modest charge: 

• a unique service to provide individual support to people of working age who have dementia called Al’s Way Project under the auspices of Crossroads Caring for Carers contactable on 0870 1420879 and

• the Worcestershire Carers Unit to support carers of people with illness, disability, or the effects of old age who cannot manage without help, telephone number : 0800 3892896.

More information about the County’s Patient and Public Involvement in Health Forums is available from 01905 24060.

The depth of support for wildlife conservation pleases me and was demonstrated by a powerful lobby in Westminster in favour of the introduction of a Marine Bill to protect our sea life in the next Parliament. I will support this as more than 50% of our wildlife depends on clean seas around our islands.

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