Forum Topics

National Health Service breakdown and privatization: "Sustainability and Transformation Plans"

I'm deeply concerned that in the build up to the General Election there has been little discussion about the disastrous changes to the NHS being proposed by the local Sustainability and Transformation Plan, the "North West London STP" which covers 8 boroughs from Westminster to Hillingdon. These plans for the 44 "footprint" regions of England and Wales have been made in a secretive manner, with very little public information and are nothing more than plans to slash, trash and privatise our NHS.           But most worrying are large private healthcare companies and their lobbyists, such as Virgin Care and American healthcare companies including UnitedHealth, the previous employer of Simon Stevens CEO of the NHS, which will chase the UK's expenditure through the NHS using the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This pressure will inexorably lead to the American model of healthcare management which causes 50% of personal bankruptcies each year in the US. All the STPs call for "Accountable Care Organisations/Systems", a term which Americans recognise only too well. This system with low fixed budgets will be screwed down so that it does not meet the public need and it will turn the health provision in England and Wales into a two tier health system where the rich will pay and the rest of us will be left with a very poor, minimal NHS, like the American Medicare/Medicaid system.         I would urge all readers to contact their candidates and let them know that the public will not stand for the destruction of the NHS and all MPs must reject the STPs and reject the move to Accountable Care Organisations. These "new models of care" will end the NHS as a comprehensive service that provides the full range of care to all who need it, free at the point of need and fully accountable to the public (private companies will hide their waste as well as their profits).               Readers can find their candidates on the website. www.whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections

Una-Jane Winfield ● 2884d0 Comments ● 2884d

Imperial NHS Trust AGM on Wed 14th Sept: Charing Cross Hospital

“STP” closure of Ealing and Charing Cross Hospitals will be rubber-stamped at Imperial NHS Trust AGM: Wed 14th September at 17.15 at St Paul's Church, Hammersmith BroadwayDon't wait until “winter pressures” get NW London hospitals back in the news: Come and protest and ask questions now!The NHS “Sustainability and Transformation Plans” are the biggest cuts you've never heard of. Under the pretence that “virtual” treatments can be a proper substitute for care in A&Es and acute wards, the board of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust will wave through their recently published pipe-dream plans (https://www.healthiernorthwestlondon.nhs.uk/sites/nhsnwlondon/files/documents/stp_june_submission_draft.pdf) at their Annual General Meeting at St Paul's Church, Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith Broadway, at 17.15 on Wednesday 14th September.Come and protest outside the AGM at 16.45Come and ask questions insideRegister here (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/imperial-college-healthcare-nhs-trust-agm-2016-tickets-26515191652) and get a ticket to the AGM. It will be possible to register questions in advance, as well as ask them on the day.After the CEO and Finance Officer's presentations there will be 35 minutes to ask questions of the Chairman, Sir Richard Sykes, and all the senior medical and management team. This is an unprecedented “consultation” with the general public.After the end of the AGM the management team will stay on for another 35 minutes for individual conversations.Bring your facts and figures about your treatment. Challenge the fanciful assumptions of the STP. This is YOUR chance to politely show the directors of a major NHS hospital trust that for the Dept of Health the game's up!

Una-Jane Winfield ● 3150d0 Comments ● 3150d

So It Begins - The Attack on the Polish Centre

Forget the crumbling currency, the decline of global stock markets, the looming break up of the union, the immediate loss of jobs with many more to follow, the likely rise in interest rates and the cessation of all foreign direct investment in the UK. The far, far greater problem is the belief of every racist in the country that Brexit means that immigrants from the EU will at some point have to go home. Therefore, in their view, the vandalisation of the POSK centre and other similar acts that have been taking place across the country is not criminality but symbol of the will of the British people democratically expressed in the referendum.I'm Irish and therefore remain a proud citizen of the EU. I also have a profound love of Britain and believed it to be the most genuinely civilised of nations and one that the world owed a debt to. At the side of Britain at its finest hour where the men of the Polish RAF squadrons whose bravery and expertise were probably decisive in tipping the balance against the Luftwaffe. At Poland's darkest hour a few years later, Britain did nothing to help when the Russians took control of their country much to the chagrin of Winston Churchill. This part of London has an historic close connection with Poland and there can be no doubt that they have enriched this country due to their work ethic and culture - just like every single wave of emigrants in this country including my parents' generation from Ireland.Every person who hates the presence of foreigners in this country believes that the Referendum was about immigration because the leaders of the Leave campaign led them to believe it was they now believe that there will be a swift and steady departure of foreign workers.When this doesn't happen and indeed when the trade negotiations with the EU ends with the UK agreeing to continued freedom of movement of Labour as it inevitably will, there will be rage at this 'stab-in-the-back'. I use that phrase aware of its historical resonance. What essentially happened last week was the legitimisation of hate. Attacks on centres associated with foreign nationals, verbal abuse in the streets, banners displayed in the centre of towns saying 'Stop Immigration, Start Repatriaton' will become part of the fabric of our daily life. The fury that no meaningful change is taking place to the immigration rules will be a wave which the far right will be happy to ride. They will argue that it is not racist to demand repatriation as the referendum showed that this is the majority view. When it doesn't happen they will talk about sinister cabals in Government and finance combining to thwart the will of the people as politicians in the past did. What the Brexit vote shows is that lots of people will believe them.

Paul Corcoran ● 3224d1 Comments ● 3224d

Artist Call - Open Art Spaces 24 June - 3 July

Maybe you work with creative groups or have an unusual space for a show? Are you a painter, potter, printmaker? Do you design, make or build? We are calling all artists, galleries, art enthusiastic spaces, colleges and more to form part of Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham's artist festival.Open Art Spaces will give local artists, groups, and colleges the opportunity to showcase their work in unusual spaces, often that in which they create it. OAS is a chance for the public to meet artists as they open up their studio spaces and homes for visitors. Taking place annually in Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham, it is an event that also comprises an exciting programme of events and happenings in public spaces. The artists taking part encompasses a rich spectrum of art forms, from fine art painters and illustrators to silversmithing and textile craftsmen. Both established, emerging and artists' collectives form part. OAS is an exciting opportunity for art lovers to experience the cities true artistic life, and offers an exclusive chance to beginning and established collectors looking for unique yet affordable pieces.Application is open until mid May. Once registered you will be included on the Open Art Spaces website and in the leaflet, which will be distributed widely across the area and at London cultural venues. Posters, invite cards, social media and a PR campaign will also promote the festival.WHEN26th June - 3rd July 2016WHERE50+ venues across Kensington, Chelsea and FulhamFind more information and entry forms on www.openartspaces.com

Julie Brodsgaard ● 3326d0 Comments ● 3326d

LBHF Plastic Recycling Bags are TOO FREELY available

Not only are these bags are delivered to our front door but they are also available free to pick up by anyone, at the library on the Askew Road.As a result, we have residents from over the border in Acton (Davis Road, St Elmo Road, Valetta Road even as far as the Vale who casually stroll in to the library to pick up free bags. They then fill them up and sneakily dump their recycling AND rubbish on our roads for LBHF to pick up. When you live near a boundary, these things happen - like parking. I think it is about time the front desk staff at the library ask for proof of residence i.e. council tax bill or a roll of bags should be charged at £1. Why not? We pay for bags elsewhere now.I am getting increasingly fed up with seeing residents from Acton - some come as far as Acton Vale, dumping their rubbish or better still fly tipping where they choose. Most of the time this is on a street corner or in an alleyway and dustmen only pick up from outside an address. This 'fly tipping'results in piles of rubbish that grow daily and a special truck has to come and take it all away. This is after someone has to call or email the council to report it. Needless to say, this costs time and money.Believe me, I see this on a regular basis and I know who the usual offenders are and they should know better.Why can't people be more responsible? I am tired of our street being used as a dumping ground!

Marlene Plimley ● 3488d0 Comments ● 3488d

If you are parking at Tesco in King Street

A few weeks ago, we received a letter from Horizon Parking that our car had been parked illegally at Tesco, King St, Hammersmith. There was a CCTV image of the vehicle parked on the forecourt, but not inside a bay - a bit of a surprise as we have been customers since the store opened and had parked like this many times before. This was in "clear breach" of the signs on the forecourt, we were informed, so I drove to Tesco to check out the signs. For the first time ever, I did spot a sign stating "30 Minutes Free Parking". It was only on going close to this sign that I saw much smaller lettering underneath: "See signs for more details". I found one other sign (above the hole in the wall but often obstructed by delivery vehicles) that says a parking charge notice of £70 will be issued if "parked out of a marked bay". (There are three other ways drivers can incur this penalty, but too much detail for now...) I wrote back that I wasn't paying because the signs were not clear enough and that they had been introduced secretly, seeking to entrap motorists.  Horizon Parking responded, asking for proof that we had shopped at Tesco, King St, that day. They got that in the form of a bank statement detailing how much we had spent there that day. Then - result! - "I can confirm the Parking Charge Notice has been cancelled in full and no further action will be required in regards to this matter."Be warned...

Steve Anderson ● 3496d1 Comments ● 3496d

NHS Enquiry or Propaganda on the Rates

I have a huge amount of admiration for Michael Mansfield QC as every person with Irish connections in this country does because of his tireless work for innocent men and women wrongly imprisoned by the British State after being falsely accused of terrorism.That does not stop me having serious misgivings about his appointment to head an enquiry into the current state of the NHS which is taking place in Hammersmith later this month. He is a man of convictions and will have an opinion on the NHS which is unlikely to be altered by any evidence presented to this enquiry. Also on the panel is John Lister of Coventry University who writes a column for the Morning Star.The enquiry is being funded by four Labour Councils - Hammersmith & Fulham, Brent, Ealing and Hounslow. It will deliver its verdict on local NHS services just in time for the start of election campaigning.We can safely assume that it will conclude that Tory cuts have damaged the NHS, the changes to A&E provision are putting thousands of lives at risk, NHS property is being sold off to greedy developers, increased used of private contractors in the NHS means that profits are being put ahead of patients and that the election of a Tory government would be a disaster for health provision in the area.I wouldn't dispute that some or all of these things may be true and there is a real need for open discussion about what is happening to local health services. However, this is no such thing but rather a fairly ill-disguised attempt by Labour in West London to divert taxpayers' money to support their election campaign. Michael Mansfield may well be doing this work for a much reduced fee but the costs of putting this fundamentally dishonest exercise together will be significant and it will do absolutely nothing to deliver a better health service.

Paul Corcoran ● 3703d7 Comments ● 3647d

Evening Standard article re local hospitals 24 March 2015

A&E's  GPs SPENT £13M ON CONSULTANTSOfficials leading a controversial GP-led shake-up of emergency and maternity care in West London spent £13.4million on consultants in 9 months, it was revealed today.The Shaping A healthier Future plan saw the closure of A&E's at Central Middlesex and Hammersmith Hospitals last September. Ealing Hospital's maternity department is due to close this year, and A&E's at Ealing and Charing Cross will be downgraded within years.A Freedom of Information request found that between April and December last year the GPs in charge of the reorganisaion awarded 22  contracts to firms including McKinsey, PwC, PA Consulting anf M&C Saatchi.Health campaigner Dr Louise Irvine said: "These figures cover only 9 months of the 3 years and more that the SAHF project has been running. Where is the value for money audit on work done by these consulatants to show what has been achieved for these millions?"A Shaping A Healthier Future spokeswoman said: "We are undertaking large scale improvements for our two million residents, including increasing access to primary care, joining up health and social care, improviung hospitals; and enhancing mental health services.To deliver these we often need a wide renge of specialist experience for a short period of time, which is what these external consultants provide."@RossLydallRoss Lydall Health EditorWell, it's only money, eh folks???

Jean F Fernandez ● 3685d1 Comments ● 3684d

Arts Education Programme and Growing Transferable Skills Through Art

Apothecary Gallery CIC is pleased to invite you to the Opening ofComplexity: Art & Design by EHWLC BTEC L2 Diploma.Private View: Monday 9th March 5-7pm.Exhibition runs: 9th - 14th March.Admission: Free.Exhibition will be open to view by appointment after the private view.You can also follow us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apothecarygalleryand twitter: https://twitter.com/ApothecaryPics The Arts Education Programme:Apothecary Gallery Arts Education Programme gives students studying art, art and design, photography and textiles at our local colleges and sixth forms the opportunity to work in a professional environment; exploring curating, event promotion and presentation and developing their social and interactive skills and confidence.The students gain a huge amount of experience and confidence from this programme, so if you have the time please do come to the private views and meet these wonderfully talented young artists. This is a great opportunity for local people to both enjoy the exciting and creative work they are producing and to meet and discuss their work with them.Growing Transferable Skills Through Art: Apothecary Gallery CIC is currently raising funds through Crowdfunder to help support our Arts Education Programme. The project is called Growing Transferable Skills Through Art. By contributing to this you will provide really valuable support to young art students and give them the chance to develop both their artistic and vocational skills and confidence. Please help us keep this programme running and growing.How to Get Involved:Make a donation if you canThis is our crowdfund site: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/growing-transferable-skills-through-art-2/

Rosey Grandage ● 3700d0 Comments ● 3700d