Lynne's Parliament and Haringey diary

Sorry about the short notice but I've just discovered that our local Health Service is consulting about out-of-hours GP services - and we only have until Friday to respond.

Our out-of-hours services are the people who provide help when we are at our sickest. They are the doctors who come and look after us when we call them out in the dead of night or who we can go to - currently Camidoc. Without them, every time we got ill in the middle of the night we'd have to drag our sickly selves to A&E - which is not what A&E was intended for, waiting for hours before receiving treatment and wasting thousands of pounds in taxpayers money - or worse still - go without treatment and get really really sick.

So why are they consulting? Well that's a very good question. Currently our out-of-hours service is provided by Camidoc, and most people agree they do a good job. I've met with them myself and that was certainly my impression. They are local and they know the area well. However Camden, Islington, Haringey and Hackney & City Primary Care Trusts (the people that run our NHS) have clubbed together to see if they can get a better deal by tendering the service again - and seeing if anyone else wants to bid for it.

Whilst it is right to try and get the best service for local people, the situation now is that literally anybody can apply to run the service. In Camden, United Health - the largest American for-profit healthcare provider - have just caused uproar by winning the contract to run three GPs surgeries and they may well bid to run our out-of-hours service.

Now I've always thought the NHS was my party's greatest achievement (it was the brainchild of a Liberal - William Beveridge) and I've always thought it works best when it's run for the greater good - not for profit.

But there are practical arguments against a private takeover as well. Camidoc is run by doctors who know the area well. Under Camidoc you may well know the doctor treating you - and even if you don't you can certainly be sure that they know your area and how to find your house. When you're at your illest and most vulnerable you're probably not going to be best able to give directions over the phone to a faceless, nameless doctor who has never been to Haringey before.

So please respond to the consultation straight away - and certainly before Friday night. It is right to have an open tender - and you may not have the same view of Camidoc that I do - but if you are very worried about private American-style for-profit organisations taking over this important service then please take this opportunity to say so.

The easiest way to respond is to email PALS@camdenpct.nhs.uk and you can find out more about the consultation and read the documentation at http://doctorsinthenight.notlong.com

Labels: nhs

Visited Highgate Group Practice to look at the appalling situation they are in thanks to Haringey Council.

With the introduction of a CPZ by Haringey Council, this fantastic local practice worked to try and help Haringey Council get it right. Transport and parking is important for a GP service – because, by its very nature, many of the people coming to use the service have difficulty getting about because they are old, ill or both. To make the situation even more pressing – the site is badly served by public transport. So – there is a need for people to be able to visit by car.

Now, there is a two-hour slot in the day when there are no surgeries – and the CPZ being introduced was due to be for two hours a day. Ah – problem solved! Well you or I might think that – but whilst the surgery down time is 12:00-2:00pm, Haringey insisted that the CPZ had to be in force at 10:00-12:00 rather than 12:00-2:00pm. Aaaaargh!

Ok, said the practice – why not then introduce 12 pay and display slots in View Road, which has empty residents’ parking bays virtually all the way? Yes said the council. Ah – problem solved! Oh but no. Because Haringey Council said it would introduce the bays back in September – but still hasn’t. Now they’re promising they’ll do it in February. Let’s hope the 700 signature petition helps keep them to this promise!

Adding insult to injury - the welcome idea of introducing a bus stop opposite the practice has been a farce. They've sloped the road in order to bring pavement level down to where buses would load - but they have not actually introduced a bus stop. And if they did introduce the stop at the site where the pavement work has been done – it would obstruct all the traffic on this relatively heavy flow road. Nil out of ten to Transport for London. I will be raising this with Peter Hendy on Wednesday.

Ho hum!

Labels: controlled parking zones, nhs, peter hendy

Haringey PCT presented their update on Hornsey Hospital to a meeting yesterday. The good news (potentially) is that they have financial closure and the building will be built. The battle now is over what services get provided, which GPs will be based there, how local pharmacies will be impacted as they want a bit of a pharmacy on site, whether extra public transport can be provided (it is served only by one bus currently) and how all of this will be decided. Will consultation be wide and reach all users and stakeholders? And will we and our GPs be listened to?

It was an extremely robust meeting. The Better Local Healthcare Campaign group are extremely concerned that this is a privatisation of our health care. They raised the issue of the building actually being used for residential or commercial purposes. Richard Sumray, the Chair of Haringey PCT, denied this categorically and said whilst it had been in early proposals as alternatives - it had fallen as they had managed to find funding without the need for either of those proposals.

There is no doubt that there will be some private provision. That is Labour's avowed proposition - that 15% of our health provision will come from the private sector. However, from what I could tell at the meeting, there is a fundamental commitment to this being and remaining an NHS service. I guess that we all have so little faith in what the Labour government tells us - especially because there have been so many varied incarnations of promises on Hornsey Hospital - that we are all concerned that what we are told may not be what happens.

My key issue is GP practices. The Trust is quite clear that some current GPs will have to move into the new, super-centre - otherwise it would not be viable. They deny absolutely that they are looking for a 50,000 patient list - but that they will commence with 15,000 rising to 25,000 years hence. Moreover - all practices will be able to use the new facilities - and thus a network of better health services will be provided locally.

My concern, which I raised pretty strongly, was that all the GPs and practices are really brought into the planning of this new facility. I have had reports from GPs of feeling pressured, being concerned that if they don't move in or do what the Trust wants they will be punished financially and so on. So I asked the Chair about coercion, punishment, engagement etc with GPs and they absolutely promised that this (engagement, not punishment!) starts now. If they do work together - then this could be a real step forward. If the Trust steamrollers its way through and doesn't listen to local people and GPs - it will be the opposite.

In terms of the concerns around local pharmacies in Crouch End being adversely affected - the Trust seems to be talking to them about them forming a collective to run the new pharmacy themselves. If this could come to fruition that would be a good way forward and an inclusive one. I haven't heard recently from the local pharmacies - so I hope that it is as we were told at the meeting.

Lastly - transport. You couldn't choose a worse placed site for lack of public transport. Only one bus now runs there. I have twice met with Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport in London on this issue - as the last thing we should be creating is more car journeys or poor access to such a facility for local people. On each occasion Peter has said - when it is a live project - let me know.

Well - with financial closure this is very live! And as my Lib Dem colleague Cllr Gail Engert (Muswell Hill) pointed out - it takes Transport for London a couple of years generally to get going on a new route (let alone the decade it took for the 603). So after the meeting I suggested to Richard that now is the moment to really push the transport aspect forward.

More generally - Richard Sumray has promised that over the coming weeks and months we will be given specifics and be consulted on this. I have over the recent weeks put out a health survey door to door (cos not everyone goes to these meetings or even hears about them) and part of the health survey is about what local people want at Hornsey Hospital. When they all come back - I will be feeding in the views to the Health Trust too.

Labels: gail engert, hornsey central hospital, nhs, peter hendy, richard sumray, tfl

Well, well, well! So Health Secretary Alan Johnson has outlined plans which aim to make the NHS more user-friendly for patients in his speech to the Labour conference. He said patients should be treated close to home and GP surgeries should open "at times and in locations that suit the patient, not the practice".

I will be quoting this incessantly at Haringey PCT if they try and move our GP practises into the polyclinics! That's the point I keep making. We need to be treated close to home.

As for this shenanigans with Brown and the election - a real man, a real Prime Minister - would put the country first! I rest my case!

Labels: alan johnson, gordon brown, nhs, polyclinics

Wednesday evening met with Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London. My three asks were: extending the 603 bus route to run all day and evening (as always); the transport issues around the new London Health Trust plans including the polyclinics (we need to ensure there are good public transport links for any such); and whether he would think about encouraging car clubs (where people share cars) via a congestion charge incentive.

So - number 1 - the 603 bus from Muswell Hill to Swiss Cottage. Well - the possibly good news is that it comes up for review next year. So our job is to make sure we feed into that review with thousands of requests to extend the operating hours from its current school run times only. People keep asking me about this - so we will have to ramp up our campaign again.

On number 2 - well it was interesting - because there are huge transport implications in the proposals to restructure health services. Firstly - the need to access in emergency for stroke, heart attack and major trauma the proposed super-specialist hospitals. Surely travel time trials from every part of London need to be done to establish the worst scenario time taken when traffic is bad and no air ambulance available? If we can't get the victims to the right place in time - then this plan won't work.

Secondly, the establishment of polyclinics - which are to serve up to 50,000 residents - may raise big transport issues. Will people be able to get to the polyclinics in reasonable time and at reasonable cost?

Peter was saying that this could be an issue and was going to arrange to meet with the Government to talk over the transport implications. Hurrah!

On number 3 - yes - Peter is considering how best to encourage the expansion of car clubs - so he agreed to look at the congestion charge in that regard - but I think any discount will be along the lines of discounts to people within the zone but not outside. Anyway - it is in and on his mind.

Update: you can read my article subsequent article about polyclinics here.

Labels: 603 bus, nhs, peter hendy, polyclinics, tfl

Muswell Hill and Highgate Neighbourhood Assembly - centred for its theme on older people in the area. Featuring were both the plans for Hornsey Hospital to become a polyclinic and the abandoning of the idea from Haringey for a restaurant in the centre of Muswell Hill Library - at which we cheered as the detailed case had never been made for it.

On the rest of the plans for the library (which is much in need of care) - there was still no timetable at all - and the Director of Libraries who was there didn't know the timetable and didn't have information about some of the basics of the plans. Not impressive. And the tragedy is that some of the ideas that have been talked about have been excellent - but it's all being lost in a mess of vagueness and foot dragging.

And then the poor woman presenting the Hornsey Hospital update got it in the neck for the shameful consultation process taking place at present on the local Primary Care Strategy. Sue Hessel said that only seven people attended the first meeting and the second which is tomorrow night may attract just as few. They said they were happy to go to other meetings if invited but as I pointed out - having a meeting isn't consultation - nothing like. So I've written my Highgate Handbook and Muswell Hill Flyer column on this issue (will post after it is published) as local people need to know what is going on.

Update: my article about polyclinics is now here.

Labels: hornsey central hospital, muswell hill library, nhs, polyclinics

Spend the morning in Ealing for the by-election. Seems very jolly over there and upbeat. Main community event of the day back in the constituency is going to Avenue Gardens Residents' Association to do a 'Question Time'.

Key issues from the evening included Haringey's lack of consultation with residents over planning proposals - in particular - Haringey Heartlands. And - even if there is a consultation - they ignore it.

One resident raised the issue of the proposed polyclinics - and the potential of these plans to denude us of our local GP practices. That is what we need to make sure doesn't happen.

It was interesting when I met with the Trust and asked what I would think is a critical question - what proportion of GP visits require further action (diagnostics, referrals to a clinic, etc), they couldn’t give a full answer.

But this is key to the polyclinics idea – because if, say 90% of doctor’s visits require follow up with one of the services that will be at the polyclinic – then having the GP and those other services all on one site can have advantages of saving further trips (and so further delays). But if those 90% instead don’t require further services, then having GP practices centralised isn’t nearly so attractive.

Anyway - back to Avenue Gardens Residents' Association - we also ranged over excess of traffic, HGVs, the tick-box society, the quality of councillors, the poor quality of decision-making at Planning Committee, and other topics too. I enjoyed it - as I always do. Meeting people at events like this always reaffirms the point to the whole process. It is always about peoples' lives!

Labels: nhs, polyclinics

Main meeting of the day was with Richard Sumray, Chair of Haringey Primary Care Trust (PCT). For me the key question was around the proposals for Hornsey Hospital which has now become part of the wider Primary Health Care Strategy. This strategy proposes (and is part of the London-wide strategy as well) something like six polyclinics in Haringey.

Hey - what's this poly thingamajig - I hear you say. Well - it's a sort of community hospital without beds – i.e. it's a super, duper, all singing all dancing health facility with clinics for various things like diabetes, services like chiropody, diagnostics and the kitchen sink. I say that - because the array of services proposed for Hornsey Hospital is yet to be consulted on and we hope (despite our experience - so hope against hope) that the services can accommodate what local people want not simply that which is prescribed by the PCT.

There is some confusion around consultation because there is a consultation by the Enfield Haringey Health Trust on the local Primary Care Strategy - which is really with health stakeholders etc and then there is also to be a consultation on Hornsey Hospital itself.

The polyclinics really come up in the Primary Care consultation - and this may contain the key issue which I believe is what loss will there be of our local GP practices as part of the move to polyclinics? The idea is to improve local health services in these new facilities and provide some of things we are used to going to the hospital for nearer to home.

But the polyclinics will need some rental income, I believe, from GP practises based in the polyclinics. Of course - if a local GP practise moves into a polyclinic - it may mean for the ordinary person who is ill, just needs the doctor and a prescription or not without further treatment, a longer journey. That in turn raises issues of travel, access, car usage, parking and public transport connections - all very difficult.

So - on the individuality of each polyclinic - including Hornsey Hospital - Richard promised me that there would be a separate consultation - a continuance of the public meetings twice a year that we all have had on Hornsey since it was closed. I would also wish to put pressure on the consultation to demand that no area of the borough should be denuded of a local GP practice - and that any practise or doctor who wants to move in to a polyclinic ought to consult with their patient list.

The polyclinics sound great - but we have to make sure that local people have a say in what is provided and a say in what happens to their local GP practices and that there is a net gain. Perhaps local people want out of hours services, doctors that will visit in the home (which might solve some of the access issues as you don't feel like getting on a bus when you are sick), and so on and so on.

There is so much involved in all of these changes - I have to say to people get involved, respond to the consultations. I am happy to have a spanking new facility on the Hornsey Hospital site as has been promised to me and local people for years now - but it has to deliver a great slab of what local people want and not remove the very local doctors that people rely on.

Update: you can read my article subsequent article about polyclinics here.

Labels: nhs, polyclinics, richard sumray

Straight on to meet David Sloman, Chief Executive at the Whittington. His issues are around the Health Strategy for London which will begin on 11th July and the Whittington's own move towards foundation status. This is a bit different from Fortismere's problems - firstly it is mandatory as the Government as decreed that all hospitals must do this within the next few years. What the Whittington gets out of it is the ability to plan for the long term, revised engagement in terms of real community voices in decision-making, legal and financial freedom. I will consult with colleagues on this in due course.

On the London-wide strategy: some of it seems ok - like stroke victims and heart attack victims going straight to special centres - so long as there are enough in London (i.e. not just shipping people miles away, especially as the first hours are so vital). The local community hospitals like the Whittington are fine too.

Where the battle lines will be drawn - and this refers back to what I said about Hornsey Hospital and the proposed polyclinics. For example - there will be something like five or six in Haringey each serving up to 50,000 residents and will provide super-duper clinics, diagnostics, etc etc. However, it will only financially be viable if they bring in our local GP practices to operate from there. Now - I wouldn't mind if they swept up the individual single-handed or two men doctor practises and put them in there - that would be improving the service - but I bet they will be after our other practices and I don't think the community will want to have the normal visit to their doctor that doesn't require other services moved away from the local.

Maybe I am wrong. We do want after hours services which would be provided on such a site - but I though that the huge hike in doctors pay and contracts was to create extra provision. Ain't seen nothing yet! So I suspect that may prove controversial. Polyclinics - great - but don't take away local GP practices.

Labels: david sloman, nhs, polyclinics, whittington hospital

Went to meet Tracy Baldwin, Chief Executive of Haringey PCT (Primary Care Trust) to discuss what has been done to get the breast cancer screening program – which was stopped because of administrative errors - started again.

Sadly Tracy was unwell and so I met her deputy - Gerry. The assurance given at the meeting was that the system has had a rigorous overhaul and that the 8,000 women identified as a top priority for screening would be seen between now and October. Overall it will take three years to get the screening program back on track, and whilst there is a small number of women whose period without screening will have been extended beyond the normal three year period - the longest period of that extension will be 10 months.

They have overhauled the way the program is run – including better quality control, so there should be no repeat of the five incidents and eighteen months it took before action was taken. They are investigating every case on an individual basis to follow through and see if there are any consequences from the suspension of the screening program.

They will publish a report on the findings of their investigations in around two weeks time. We await the report.

As I was there - I took the opportunity to try and find out what was happening on the 'consultation' about the Primary Health Care. A local campaigner had contacted me really upset that the promised two open meetings were being held in the summer when many people would be away, the second of which is at the Muswell Hill Assembly on the 23rd July.

Having checked with Cllr Gail Engert who chairs this Assembly, it would appear that this Assembly is focusing on health issues for the older members of our community - and that is what the Trust will talk to. This brings in an update on Hornsey Hospital - but it isn't the promised 'open meeting' to discuss the future of Primary Health Care in the borough.

I will write to the Trust to get the promise of these two meetings confirmed - as I, like the campaigners, fear consultation occurring in holidays or not being carried out in a way that will engage local people properly.

It is absolutely vital that the whole community has a say - as the proposals for poly-clinics which will cater for up to 50,000 patient lists will also mean that GP practises have to move in there too. Whilst the idea may be viable and produce spanking new facilities - which we welcome - I have a sneaking suspicion that funding will be needed and that the plan is to get it from renting to GP practises. And I thought that the new GP contracts were to provide services locally. It might work if the practises could stay where they were - but pay for the fantastic clinics and diagnostics available at the poly - clinics. Anyway - that is why the consultation is vital! We all love our local GP practises and we need to be sure that what is provided adds to our facilities - not detracts from them.

Labels: gail engert, nhs

Hot weather - not much choice of suitable clothing on inspecting wardrobe. Anyway - off today to open 'Denchic' Dental Spa. Not sure what this will be - but when I get there am just delighted to find such a beautifully designed place. This new idea is designed to take the fear out of dentistry, with not just expertise but also and absolutely beautiful surroundings (design is rather a thing of mine – and the benefits of good design are far too often overlooked!).

Anyway - this lovely 'dental spa' (which is private) is a great new small business for Crouch End. There is a good NHS dental practise just up the road - but not everyone can get an NHS dentist any more. The place is the long-cherished plan and dream for two exiled Iranians, who lived in Sweden for many years - met in dental college there and came to Britain around ten years ago. They are married with one son - Sam - who was running around at the opening - very excited. Kian and Cath Nikdel are absolutely lovely people and they have clearly poured their heart and soul into this venture.

This sort of excellence, with lots of thought and care given to what it is like for the patient, should also act as a spur to the NHS – as those are the standard we should aspire to for everyone through the NHS too. Easier to say than do mind…

Met a local author and playwright at the opening, Max Arthur. He has just had his play, Forgotten Voices (about the First World War), accepted and put on for six weeks at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith. So that's something else to celebrate!

Labels: nhs

Hurrah! My glasses were found in the back of the car that brought me back from The Westminster Hour - thank goodness. Tuesday has been a busy, busy day and I hate it when there isn't even breathing space between events.

To highlight the best of the bunch: met with an interesting organisation called Waging Peace about the ever-deteriorating situation in Darfur. My take is that the world is standing by and letting genocide take place. The Sudanese Government is playing us for fools and toying with us suggesting that they are on our side against Al Qaeda when really they are not. The Arab militias continue to kill rebels and the suffering is spreading into Chad and Central Africa. We need action from the EU and the UN. Sanctions, travel bans and arms embargos would be a start and for goodness sake - China is applying more pressure than we are.

I also met constituents about the mess that the changes to the way junior doctors are employed have caused. It's a terrible tale of diving in without a clue where it will end up - and now peoples' lives and careers are being ruined. And are they stopping it? No. This is a nightmare for those caught up in the changes. This should have been thought about, piloted and rolled out in a measured way rather than being steamrollered through across the board.

More Maxitech good works as they start teaming up with Age Concern to deliver free computers and training to our older citizens. The event to mark this is held in the Lords and really it is quite clear that Maxitech has solved the problem of big corporations like HSBC, John Lewis and British Airways (all in attendance) who want to be good and give their old computers for good causes – but need to know that the computers will be properly wiped clean and they won’t be caught by legal liability issues.

Then onto Spurs to see the launch of the Bounds Green United football team - set up and initiated by the (police) Bounds Green Safer Neighbourhood Team. Spurs are doing their community bit - hurrah - and some of the wards in the borough are getting teams together to compete. The first match will be on Tuesday. It's a great project and I get to stand one inch from the pitch - the hallowed turf. It is a tremendous feeling. Thanks to the police Safer Neighbourhood Team - without whom this just would not have happened.

Then on to the CASCH AGM (a Crouch End residents' association). Nice to be able to get here tonight - as Monday and Tuesday nights are usually impossible but I try to get to all local events that I can. The new Met volunteer organiser is there - and talks to the members about perhaps joining the team. It is so great to see what feels like my 'baby' growing up. The re-opening of the front counter at Muswell Hill police station was fantastic and the volunteers who run it are fantastic - and now it's the second generation organiser is in place. Very rewarding. As they go on to the business of the Association, it is time for me to run as I have a radio car coming to my house at 10pm to interview me on vulture funds.

Vulture funds are these companies that feed off the debt of the third world. The High Court ruled today to cut Zambia’s debt repayments to them:

A "vulture" fund seeking more than $55m (£27.5bn) from Zambia had its wings clipped in the high court yesterday by the judge who limited its claim to $15.5m and cut its award of costs because of its "dishonesty".

(From The Guardian)

Debt relief was a good move - and it is horrifying to think that anyone would prey on these countries and exploit a legal loophole. We need a government that takes action - not just wrings its hands ineffectually as this one is doing.

Then get a message that there is no radio car available to come to where I live - so go home to bed!

Labels: casch, darfur, muswell hill police station, nhs, the westminster hour, vulture funds

Despite a last minute concession, health spending in Haringey is being cut.

Labels: nhs

Met with Carl Lammy - Chair of Haringey Mental Health Trust. The promised development of St Ann's (and much needed and vital development - have you seen the antiquated mess of buildings that form St Ann's?) has run into a storm of objections from local people concerned that what this really means is a sell-off of public land. Well - yes probably.

In this, yet again, we see this Labour government's steam-roller approach to their avowed intent - which is to remodel the health service into specialist centres with local super health hubs within which 15% of the budget will be spent on private providers.

We didn't ever get to vote on that. If such a switch to private providers had been from a Tory government it would have brought forth a howl of protest from Labour supporters - but this is from Labour itself. Put this together with the sell-off of public land assets to finance new builds - and you get protests.

Hence the problems St Ann's renewal is encountering: they suffer the rage of those of us who never agreed to this program - but they have no real choice or voice in this. Local campaigners together with local politicians including my Liberal Democrat colleague Wayne Hoban and others campaigned against the closure of the X-ray service on the St Ann's site - and that bit has had a reprieve, but it is only a reprieve. We need an X-ray department at St Ann's. The very important eating disorder services that are there - and many others - that need frequent x-rays.

Anyway - the point is that the facilities at St Ann's are ancient and failing. To change them to modern day standards and comfort needs money – and Labour will only make funds available on its own terms, making people jump through the hoops that it wants, regardless of local opinion. And that will see land sold, I am sure.

We have seen this happen in education and in housing and now it is health’s turn. Labour's modernisation program means – do what we say, sell-off land and involve private companies. Now – selling off land and involving private companies can have their place on occasion – who would want to die the in ditch to say that every single last square millimetre of land owned by the NHS anywhere in the UK must be kept for all time? – but the problem with Labour is that they impose, top-down, a one-size fits all solution rather than taking individual cases on their merits and listening to what local people really want.

Selling assets and involving private firms through PFI, PPP, LIFT etc is a live now, pay later philosophy - where we getting new buildings for our aging hospitals and schools but then the pain comes down the line when we are still paying high costs year after year and all the family silver has gone.

Labels: nhs, wayne hoban

Rush to Downing Street to meet three very, very old ladies who have come to present a petition to Patricia Hewitt via No 10! The Prayer (wording) on the petition reads:

We the undersigned condemn: the neglect of Hornsey Hospital and its site; the neglect of older peoples' services in Haringey; the failure to inform and consult with local people. We the undersigned demand that services promised for older people at Hornsey Central are provided at the site with no sell-off of NHS property.

It is signed by over 500 signatories - but there could have been many, many more. I myself have met with both local and London-wide NHS officials to try to ensure that the proceeds from the sale of part of the site go back into the redevelopment of the site - as despite our protests I fear they are steamrollering through the sale of the land.

The three ladies were fantastic. I just hope I am like that in my advanced years. Hetty Bower is 101 years old, Violet Reiners was born in 1915 and Alison Flora Selford was born in 1920. I met them, and Janet Shaprio (who organised all of this) outside the railings at Downing Street. So we went through security. The police and guards were all soooo nice to us and we took lots of photos before knocking on the door of No 10. Sadly, T Blair didn't open it and invite us in for tea! I thought how lovely it would have been if he had! Although I think he might have got the wrong end of our tongues if he had. The trio of ladies may have been old in years - but vigorous of conviction they definitely were. It was a joy to meet them.

Now I must pursue a request in the covering letter from Janet Shapiro to ask for a debate in the House of Commons on recent changes in NHS funding, and in particular the involvement of private partners. So that will go to Patricia Hewitt - and I will try in Business Questions next week to catch Mr Speaker's eye to also ask for that same debate!

Labels: hornsey central hospital, nhs

At last - finally I have my meeting with Ruth Carnell, the new London Health supremo. Her body is the one that matters in terms of making sure that if lands are sold off around the Hornsey Central Hospital site then they monies come back to develop health services on the rest. I had been wanting to meet her for some time to ask for guarantees to ring fence the proceeds for the Hornsey Central site.

At first they refused - and said I had to see the local Health Trust (Enfield and Haringey) which was useful - but they do not have the authority to say where money will go. So having got the meeting (and I am genuinely grateful to Ruth for coming over to Portcullis House and giving me her time - with 31 separate trusts to deal with she is just a bit busy) - I put the case.

Ruth was willing and is going to write a letter saying that we can have the proceeds provided there is a credible plan on the table. I guess that is as good as we are going to get and if the bid to the Government for the other £7 million that is needed succeeds – then there should be a credible plan.

Obviously whilst I had the opportunity, I put some of the points I’ve been campaigning on with my Lib Dem colleagues: the need for net gains in terms of GPs; the need for ordinary local people to have a real input in terms of what is provided on the site in terms of services; issues around fears that private providers might be brought in and about the knock on dangers this would have for the Whittington, etc.

We didn’t see eye-to-eye on all the issues – particularly the role of private providers in providing NHS services – so I’m sure there will be more debating in the future. But for now – things are moving forward in pretty much as good a direction as we could have given the rules and policies Labour have drawn up for health services. And in the New Year, my colleague - Health Spokesperson Cllr Richard Wilson - will be publishing the Liberal Democrat Prescription for Hornsey Central Hospital.

Labels: hornsey central hospital, nhs, whittington hospital

At the same time as the tornado hit Kensal Rise yesterday, the thunder clapped, the lightening lightened and the skies opened and bucketed down on me and my researcher Mette as I delivered the teacher cut outs by local children from Bounds Green School to 10 Downing Street.

As you can see in the picture I am holding two of the cut outs - there were hundreds in paper folders - but I couldn't hold them for the picture without getting them soaked. But all were handed in and Mette and I got very, very wet.

Then I hosted a meeting on Shingles - which is a form of the herpes virus - to raise awareness of just how serious and debilitating an illness this is. It requires effective pain relief and relatively few GPs are truly experienced in this field and there are not many pain clinics. Also, there are drugs that can be prescribed if caught very early that prevent it actually coming full on - but the cost is not something some NHS primary care trusts will stomach with Patricia Hewitt's job on the line if their budgets don't come in on the line.

A new vaccine is hopefully soon going to come on the licensed market - but in the meantime, if raising awareness will help sufferers get the treatment and consideration for this painful disease that they need - then here is a bit of blog-awareness.

Last but certainly not least is a Westminster Hall debate on the reports of the Home Affairs Select Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights. It was a sensible debate and you can read what I said about the powers of detention under the Terrorism Act here.

Labels: mette kahlin, nhs

Main event of the day was a public meeting organised by Save Hornsey Hospital Campaign titled 'Save Local Health Services under Threat' - which they most certainly are.

I was chairing the meeting and there were a number of speakers, including a really impressive doctor Jacky Davis who told it how it is. She laid out quite clearly the scenarios which are leading to the privatisation of the NHS and demonstrated the harmful effect that so called 'patient choice' has had in letting the private sector cherry pick - whilst the NHS (our NHS) is left with less funds and all the difficult cases.

We also had Maria Duggan - a local health expert and local resident - who spoke passionately about the death of services for older people in the west of Haringey. We have very high numbers of older people in the wards in the west of the borough - more than in the east - and yet no council facilities grace the west.

The long-promised all singing all dancing replacement facility for older people that was meant to be delivered in exchange for stopping the campaign to save Hornsey Central Hospital has never materialised.

In fact, the only bit of the proposals to supply beds for older people on the site has collapsed - a mix between Haringey Council withdrawing their sponsorship of that bit and the Primary Care Trust (PCT) taking so long and changing tack so many times that the Council gave up trying to work with them.

The Lib Dems have been campaigning for 'Action Now' on Hornsey Central Hospital after the six years of broken promises. Our fight is to make sure that health services are finally delivered – and that the development is about what is needed and wanted locally.

Shirley Murgraff - a long-standing community campaigner - tried to get across the urgency and extent of what was happening in the NHS and to get people signed up to the National Campaign to Keep the NHS. Richard Stein laid out the legal possibilities of challenging what is happening.

Sue Secher, Sue Hessel and Janet Shapiro all gave rousing speeches and more people are needed to sign up to the campaign. There are a number of fronts to be fought on – from pressurising Haringey Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee to making sure everyone local to Fortis Green clinic is aware that they can now put in their two pennies worth on its proposed closure.

There was a representative from the PCT there who tried to say that they were consulting. But as the 'discussion' (she was careful to make this distinction) will only be advertised through the newspaper or on lampposts – so there will be another job to do to make sure that people really know what is going on.

The bid to the Government for £7million towards the cost of the new proposed health facility on the Hornsey Central Hospital site will soon be decided. Together with £3.5 million from a LIFT project and the sale of two clinics and some land - this delivers the £14 million funding for the new facility. Of course - the problems are around how much will be private and what will be additional rather than shuffling deckchairs.

The Liberal Democrats have a 5-point plan for Hornsey Central if the bid comes in - which is why I have supported the bid. My pragmatic stance is: let’s get the £7 million and then fight to get what local people want out of it. To get the money we have to jump through some of the Government’s hoops – however much we might disagree with them.


The five points are:

1. More GPs and clinic sessions provided - not just the existing GPs and clinics we already have reshuffled and centralised. There needs to be a real dialogue between the PCT and local GPs to ensure what is provided is wanted by the practices. It is essential that coverage of GPs and GP practices across the area remains and that there is a net gain.

2. Real engagement and consultation with patients, residents, voluntary organisations and health workers over the development and relocation of services. As the promise was originally to replace the services for older people - their needs must be addressed and therefore full engagement with older residents is a priority.

3. Improved public transport to Hornsey Hospital, to ensure it is accessible – particularly for older people and parents with young children. The PCT needs to work with Transport for London to get existing bus routes extended to reach the site and the W2 route reinstated as a minimum.

4. Protect our community pharmacies by working with existing pharmacists and carrying out an impact assessment before opening a new pharmacy at the Hospital.

5. Ensure that the proceeds of any land or property sale go back into site.

This is not an exhaustive list and there are lots of pitfalls and dangers - but at least if we can fight for net gain and proper, and I mean proper, engagement - then just perhaps we can squeeze something out of the current disaster.

Anyway - top marks to the Save Hornsey Central Hospital campaigners who had worked so hard to get this meeting together. It can be very hard work to get people informed and out of their houses - but the hall was packed and the passions ran really high.

Labels: hornsey central hospital, nhs, tfl

Leading for the Liberal Democrats in Parliament on the Police Justice Bill today - which means pressure! What always astonishes me is that although it takes months for a Bill to wend its way through the legislative process in both Houses of Parliament, when it is due to come to the Chamber, it is so utterly rushed. Third reading in the Lords on the Thursday, Hansard published on Friday (needed so you can read up on what was said, what happened and why etc) and back in the Commons for Lords amendments on the Monday. So frantic weekend preparing – but even then you don't know what amendments will be taken in what order – as that only came through at lunchtime today.

The big issue was extradition - because we on the Lib Dem side believe that – in a nutshell - our treaty with the USA means they can extradite our citizens much easier than we can get theirs. The Without going into the nitty gritty that had the lawyers in the house slavering - it's not fair! Oor extradition expert, David Heath, did a great job on extradition

The rumours were that the vote would be close - possibly even a defeat for the Government. And given the number of Labour ministers in the lobbies (including Tony Blair – who often does not vote) I guess the Labour whips must have thought they might lose. It was close - but not that close. Close enough, however, for it to be likely that the House of Lords will have another go on this when the Bill goes back to them.

I then battled on Conditional Cautions - where the Government is creating (in my view) a two-tier justice system as you will be given a choice to pay a fine or go to court. If you pay a fine (i.e. if you can afford it) - then you not only avoid the nasty business of going to court, but you also evade a criminal record. I call this Labour's Pay & Go policies.

Then it was the powers that the Home Secretary wants to directly intervene in a failing police force. There used to be independent inspection - which if negative would trigger intervention. The Government had conceded that some independent inspection should still be involved - but there are no criteria for what constitutes 'failing' or 'last resort'. Given the Government's sensitivity to bad publicity, you can just imagine something going wrong and getting them bad headlines over a crime incident. And then in order to look active and in charge - the Home Sec 'intervenes'. The operational independence of the police in my view would be seriously compromised. The last thing we need is any more politicisation of the police.

On police mergers the Government agreed to the five test that we and the Tories put forward - making the case, public and proper (not just statutory) consultation, adequate parliamentary time, addressing the funding etc. So no vote needed on this one!

And last but not least - prison inspectorates. We had already had a great victory in the Lords. The Government’s defeat meant they came back at the last minute with 20 pages of amendments to Lords Third Reading stage abandoning their proposals to merge five inspectorates together. I had laid such a similar amendment at Committee stage in the Commons - but the Government didn't budge. Sadly we rely on the Lords to right wrongs! Anyway - there were a few details that pulled back power to the Home Sec again - and away from the independent inspectorates. So the Tories managed to get amendments down on these - but the Government defeated us.

I also just about managed to meet my constituent Caroline Sharpe - part of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer lobby today. And she was very successful in lobbying me (and I was very happy to be lobbied as so many women fail to get screened). I am going to see if I can get a letter out to those areas in Hornsey & Wood Green where screening take up is so poor. I don't know anyone who doesn't know someone (or more) who has breast cancer. I have several friends - and my mother had it too. Early detection and the new treatments can change the prospects of survival dramatically. Also - as Caroline pointed out - Herceptin is easy to get if you go privately as are new forms of chemo - which up your chances. Our state system has to improve in its treatment of these types of diseases. It used to be that the difference between going private or state was just that you got a nice private room and food - but the clinical treatment was the same - and in the end it is the clinical treatment that really counts. Now there appears to be a clinical difference - then we need to agitate for the NHS to be able to provide the best possible.

Labels: nhs, tony blair

Ruth Carnall is the Chief Executive of the new London Strategic Health Authority. I wanted to see her because at the recent public meeting on Hornsey Hospital it was made clear that a parcel of land from the site is to be sold off. Now - it is one thing if it is sold and all the money comes back into developing a new health facility on the site – but another if the money disappears into some distant pot and we here are left high and dry without hospital, without the land and without the dosh!

Where the money goes is down to this new body – so I wanted to meet them, but they didn't want to see me! When my office phoned, (and my 'arranger' Ed is pretty insistent) - they insisted that I go and see the local Chief Executive of the Enfield Haringey Health Authority - Tracy Baldwin. So I did on Friday.

Happily, the fuss I made about wanting to see Ruth Carnall had preceded me in that Tracy Baldwin had been to the London body and been greeted by 'who is this Lynne Featherstone?'! According to Ms Baldwin this was helpful in that the bid for a government pot of money is ready to be submitted (this is the larger part of the funding needed for the new facility) and if the government grants the bid then, together with the proceeds of the land sale, there would be the money and the plans to start work on the new facility on the site early in the new year. And – importantly - the London Strategic Health Authority have now said that Haringey will have first call on the proceeds. So – not quite a cast-iron legal contract, but pretty good news and if the bid is successful it looks as if the money will come here and the project will go ahead.

I am writing a letter of support for the bid - because this is the best shot at delivering facilities we are going to get. It’s best to get the best of what’s possible. There are other lesser options in the bid - but this is the one to go for. I am optimistic – and next it will be a matter of working to ensure that local people and users of local GPs services get an input to the next round of decisions about the site and its development.

We are a long way on from last year when it looked like only private money for private health would make the project viable. At least with this system the vast majority of the funding is NHS and the consequent facilities are mostly what local people say that they want. So - fingers crossed.

Labels: hornsey central hospital, nhs

My youngest daughter's 17th birthday today. I have to get her up for presents and cards at 7.30am - poor thing. Finished her AS's yesterday thank goodness. So dash off to work. Am studying the news very hard this week as I am on Question Time tomorrow and live in terror of not knowing about some issue that may come up.

Lib Dem Home Affairs Team first thing - and we thrash out our views on the terror raid in Forrest Gate, discuss trafficking and general crime issues. I have to leave early to go and meet the School Council from Fortsimere School who I have sponsored for a tour and who come up to see the exhibition of some of their work on display at the House. The new head is with them and I ask him for a meeting to discuss the school's desire or otherwise to become a foundation school. I am against this on principle - but Haringey have screwed them financially to the point where I guess they feel it is Hobson's choice. I will try and persuade them - but in the end - so long as there is a proper democratic process for making this decision - it has to be for the school, the students, the governors, the staff and the parents to decide.

I go to PMQs - and then stay both for the statement on the NHS and then the Opposition Debate on Tax Credits. What a mess - both of them!

Labels: nhs, pmqs

Ming comes to launch our local election campaign in Haringey - where we have a real chance to take Haringey Council after 35 years of Labour rule. The Leader coming confirms this position!

I and Neil Williams (LibDem Council Group Leader) meet Ming at Harringay station. He arrives at 9.15am on the dot. I love people who are on time and organised. We go to the Tottenham side of the station - to Harringay ward - to photograph Ming with the Harringay candidates and then to the Hornsey & Wood Green side for photographs with the Stroud Green candidates. Both sides are to emphasize our campaign for CCTV on the scary entrances both sides of the bridge.

Ming (Sir Menzies Campbell to give him full title) is looking very dapper and smart. We proceed to the campaign HQ at The Three Compasses where Ming will launch our campaign, meet local members and activists (all stuffing envelopes - and boy there are a lot to stuff) and do one-to-one interviews with the journalists covering his visit.

One of the journos lets it be known that a hastily scrambled together 'launch' by Labour Minister Hazel Blears is now to take place at 11am same day having heard about Ming's visit. I know Labour are terrified of losing the Council - but please!

If it's true - then Hazel (who is my opposite number as I am her Shadow Minister) will do her duty and attack the LibDems and me as usual. It doesn't matter which way we vote on anything - be it the police budget at the GLA or the Violent Crime Reduction Bill.

We supported the funding for the police and the Violent Crime Reduction Bill - but whatever we say or do - Labour's mantra is always the same and always untrue. In politics, as opposed to pretty much every other walk of life, lying is just shrugged at and you are just meant to grin and put up with it - but I think that is why politics is in the state it is in - because people can't be sure that what they read is the truth.

I know I digress - but there is an absurd letter going out in Stroud Green. It purports to be from a Bernard E who lives in Stapleton Hall Road (curiously there’s no-one with the first name Bernard on the electoral register in that road). It basically attacks me for supposedly being a known right winger and supporter of the Orange Book. (A think tank book of essays and ideas by LibDems - one of which was a 'right-wing' suggestion about funding in the NHS - thrown out robustly by the party at the following conference).

This would make the party laugh - as that is hardly my reputation or position in the political spectrum. Anyway - there are two versions - one with a Labour imprint and one without (although election law requires all leaflets to have an imprint) - and the writer says he is an old friend of one of the Labour candidates, though doesn’t mention that said person is already a councillor in another ward but was deselected by the Labour party there and so has had to find another ward to stand in.

I mention all this because - whilst we are standing at Harringay Station with Ming - a man comes up to Lib Dem Cllr Laura Edge and me and asks if we have seen this anonymous (in the sense there is no surname and no address) letter going out and how awful it is and how obviously a Labour smear letter. I am heartened by the public's ability to see through this type of rubbish.

What is odd about the attacks on me is that I am not even a candidate in the local elections as I am stepping down after eight years as a local councillor and five as Leader of the Opposition. But I know that for Labour (and the defunct Tories who have no seats on the council at all) I am a symbol of all of their troubles and political losses.

So at the Three Compasses and into the working room where the stuffing tables are. A big cheer from quite a crowd gathered there and Ming delivers a rallying speech to encourage the troops - as does Neil. Ming clearly thinks we can do it - if we do the work between now and polling day.

Then the series of one-to-ones with reporters. Ming is in fine form - and truly a professional. Interviews over - a couple of members take him for a short tour and then off to Euston to get a train to Manchester for the next big launch. The cry is that we will make great gains across the board - more votes, more councillors and more councils!

Straight back down to earth and surgery at Jacksons Lane Community Centre. Run into Melanie - the Director - who is in happy mode as Haringey 'found' the funding to save the centre. I knew they would. Having made it explicit that I would turn this into an election issue if they didn't I think that may have played a part in focusing their attention on resolving the matter quickly and before the election got under way - although they will undoubtedly claim that had nothing to do with it. That's where politics works! A situation where Haringey has ignored or not responded on such an important matter - and suddenly with a political spotlight about to shine and me poking my nose in – then things happen.

I remember a similar thing when Labour Haringey wanting to close Muswell Hill library. But the library campaigners, local residents and the LibDems turned it around - with the fortuitous advent of a local ward by-election at that very moment.

In the evening I go to meet Linda Alliston who leads the Coldfall Woods Group. There have been huge problems with gangs of youths on motor bikes 'buzzing' dogs and walkers and then burning their no doubt stolen bikes. There is raw sewage (long term problem) being fed into the stream.

The solution to the bikes is to make the woods and football pitches secured by 'kissing' gates so that motorbikes can't enter. For this they need to access the Section 106 money (£500k) from the Lynx Depot development. Cllr Martin Newton (Lib Dem, Fortis Green) comes with me and he has already secured a promise that they would have no problem with a bid for the gates - so they need to write in and I will support that bid. Also - Martin has got the new Safer Neighbourhood police team (which is just in place) to agree that they will come and look at how they can tackle the youth/bike problem.

In the meantime however, Haringey needs to deal with the perennial dumping - and to notify the allotment owners and houses (whether Haringey or Barnet) that back onto Muswell Hill playing field that throwing their BBQ waste over into the fields is not acceptable behaviour. Sadly, there’s an anti-social minority who do this. The good folk who love the fields and the woods have two major clear-ups a year.

Anyway - it was nice to meet the group who look after and love the fields and the woods - a wonderful local amenity - and Martin will pursue the issues and I will also be writing to support the case.

Go back to campaign HQ for a last hour of stuffing envelopes to sooth me down to sleep mode!

Labels: hazel blears, jacksons lane community centre, laura edge, martin newton, ming campbell, muswell hill library, neil williams, nhs, violent crime reduction bill

Reflecting on the swingeing cuts at the Royal Free and having done a bit of homework with various medical experts, I have come to the conclusion that many of the problems stem from the fact that management make decisions about which jobs to cut, and doctors are relatively expensive compared to, say, nurses.

However due to the way medicine works, it requires several nurses on the ward for every doctor. At the end of the day it is clinical staff - not managers - who see, assess, treat, take responsibility for, and discharge patients. The biggest growth area in the NHS is middle management. It would be virtually impossible to find a clinician who has any idea of the purpose/reason for this management 'growth industry.' Conversely managers often start interfering with clinical decisions based on a lack of medical understanding - for example pressure to discharge patients prematurely, thereby increasing their chances of rapid readmission.

Admittedly most doctors are patient-centred and not management-trained, so those hard-working managers who keep our cupboards stocked and pay the bills are crucial. The rest, who sit in pointless 9-5 meetings and hypothesise about meeting targets, while there are not enough clinicians to possibly do so within the limits of physics, should be redistributed.

Labels: nhs

I rush to Westminster Hall - where mini-versions of Parliamentary debates take place. Members (i.e. MPs) put in for a particular debate - and it is a lottery as to whether you get one. I keep putting in - but haven't been pulled out of the hat as yet.

The MP who does succeed in getting the debate puts the case for whatever subject they have chosen, other Members can choose to come and speak and will be called if there is time, and then there is a winding up by each of the opposition parties and the Government Minister then has to respond to all the point made. So it can be a useful exercise to put a case and have a Minster address the issues raised by the debate. There is no vote.

So - I rush today to watch one as tomorrow and Thursday I am on the front bench for the Lib Dems in Westminster Hall and want to see one in action before I have to do it myself. However, the Tory who has the debate is not there at the time of starting and the Chair immediately suspends proceedings. The debate falls. As I exit the room, a very puffed Tory rushes past - but too late. Poor guy.

Later on I go to an all-party meeting on prison reform where (Home Secretary) Charles Clarke is putting forward, as far as I can see, LibDem policy on prison reform - rehabilitation, education, community sentences. How come when we have this in our manifesto the buggers just chant 'soft on crime'? It is so stupid 'cos everyone knows that prison isn't working in terms of the prison - 60% of prisoners re-offend within two years and the huge growth in the prison population costs a fortune – money that therefore isn’t available to be spent on other things like crime prevention or the NHS. Anyway - always nice (if galling) to be able to say 'I told you so'.

Labels: charles clarke, nhs

I hold my surgery in Wood Green, but have decided that the vote on climate change (a private members' bill) is so important that I will have to leave surgery to make sure that the Bill goes through to its next stage. The show of numbers (mainly on the Lib Dem benches) meant that the Tories decided not to divide the House and no vote was actually taken because it was quite obvious that it would pass anyway. What the Tories did that was totally unacceptable in my view was talk out the second bill on environmentally friendly energy policies. Defeating something where there’s a debate and the vote goes that way is one thing – but just talking and talking until something has to fall when time runs out is something else. I think the practise should be banned as it subverts the course of democracy. I know it's gone on since the beginning of time - but it is wrong!

Then I rush back to go to the North London Hospice. What a fantastic organisation delivering a fantastic service. The NHS could truly take some lessons. The big issue for them, needless to say, is funding. So much still comes from donations. It provides a service that the state appears not to bother with most of the time and when it does it is crude, nasty and undignified. Should this really be left to donations to sort out? I left the Hospice really heartened because the people involved are so committed, so dedicated and the service so good - that it gave me hope!