IT was the parliamentary recess for 'Easter' last week and it has given MPs and peers a chance to spend some time in foreign climes or campaigning in the council elections. According to taste.
I was trying to scuttle round my leafleting patch on Sunday evening when I was stopped by an 82-year-old lady who came out of her bungalow to tell me a long tale about her dealings with the local hospitals last week.
What she told me was just another sad story to add to the many we have compiled in our Liberal Democrat dossier of problems at our main hospitals.
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It is a familiar tale. Feeling unwell, being sent to Pendle Community Hospital for tests, then referred immediately to Burnley, more tests and a decision that she needed a bed.
Except the bed was at Blackburn.
On arrival at Blackburn by ambulance she had to wait four hours until a bed became free. Two afternoons later they said she had to go home because someone else urgently needed her bed.
But she had find her own way back to Colne.
When I met Jo Cubbon before she left for pastures new she said that tales like this do not amount to "horror stories".
Perhaps not. For younger, wealthier and fairly healthy people with cars and family members to drive them, it's just a minor inconvenience.
But for the local health service to treat so many more vulnerable and frailer people like this is a disgrace.
Burnley and Pendle Councils have both called - unanimously - for a review of the management of the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust.
But we don't want a "review" of the removal of A and E from Burnley to Blackburn.
Posted by: a nurse, east lancs on 3:25pm Tue 15 Apr 08
Patients do not have to make their own way back to Colne! All patients have their discharge needs checked on admission and PTS can be arranged but this can mean waiting for 6 hours but they will take you to the door.
Patients do not have to make their own way back to Colne! All patients have their discharge needs checked on admission and PTS can be arranged but this can mean waiting for 6 hours but they will take you to the door.
We barely heard anything from the Libdems before the closure... Now they're campaigning to re-open it.
What's that saying about closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted.
Typical Lib Dem non-action.
We barely heard anything from the Libdems before the closure... Now they're campaigning to re-open it.
What's that saying about closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted.
Typical of the Lib Dems is it not? read all the gibberish Lib Dem election leaflets. They have now started taking credit for all the central GOVERNMENT funded projects. But what do you expect. With low levels of literacy amongst certain elements of Pendle residents they can easily fool these gullible voters.
Typical of the Lib Dems is it not? read all the gibberish Lib Dem election leaflets. They have now started taking credit for all the central GOVERNMENT funded projects. But what do you expect. With low levels of literacy amongst certain elements of Pendle residents they can easily fool these gullible voters.
Typical of Lord Greasy, take the credit for the hard work being done by others. No doubt this arrangement is not working but don't shoot the hard working people of the NHS ( apart from the overpaid managers in the PCT). What lord greasy fails to mention is the increase in poverty in these vulnerable people of pendle. Pendle has been given £12 million in the last four years to increase and improve services for older and vulnerable people - all wasted and this group is even more poorer and more vulnerable. Before throwing stones at others Greasy, check your own position. You and your incompetent buffoons have wasted lifetime of opportunities. This A&E issue will never be resolved by the likes of you, your too dumb and self-centred and a vindicative old man.
Typical of Lord Greasy, take the credit for the hard work being done by others. No doubt this arrangement is not working but don't shoot the hard working people of the NHS ( apart from the overpaid managers in the PCT). What lord greasy fails to mention is the increase in poverty in these vulnerable people of pendle. Pendle has been given £12 million in the last four years to increase and improve services for older and vulnerable people - all wasted and this group is even more poorer and more vulnerable. Before throwing stones at others Greasy, check your own position. You and your incompetent buffoons have wasted lifetime of opportunities. This A&E issue will never be resolved by the likes of you, your too dumb and self-centred and a vindicative old man.
I have to say that some of the comments made in response to the Noble Lord's article are at variance to my recollection of events.
The Noble Lord and I frequently clash but as I recall the Liberal Democrats locally were vehemently opposed to the closure of the A&E Department at Burnley.
Futhermore I have to say that I cannot detect any criticism from the Noble Lord of the medical staff that work for the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
It seems to me there are a number of core issues here. An increasingly detached managerial elite running our public services, and a political elite equally detached or confused about how best to organise and run them.
It is true that locally poverty is rife and getting worse but much of this is the product of globalisation (and some in part due to lack of skill among people locally in managing their monetary affairs. Globalisation is having the effect of lowering the living standards for the ordinary majority (though much of this has been hidden by borrowing) while a cocooned elite (which now includes among others our MPs) have been made rich beyond their wildest dreams.
Where I think criticism can be levelled at the Liberal Democrats is over their decision to introduce town councils in Nelson and Colne. This has been justified in part by the fact that it will add just £30 or so a year to the Council Tax but when folks are really struggling it is another £30 they can ill-afford to lose. Again the way in which this is presented by the ruling elites betrays their detachment and lack of concern for ordinary folks. This additional tax burden on households is coming just at the very point when times are getting tough. This, in my view, is a truly crazy thing for the Liberal Democrats to do, but that, as they say, is politics.
I have to say that some of the comments made in response to the Noble Lord's article are at variance to my recollection of events.
The Noble Lord and I frequently clash but as I recall the Liberal Democrats locally were vehemently opposed to the closure of the A&E Department at Burnley.
Futhermore I have to say that I cannot detect any criticism from the Noble Lord of the medical staff that work for the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
It seems to me there are a number of core issues here. An increasingly detached managerial elite running our public services, and a political elite equally detached or confused about how best to organise and run them.
It is true that locally poverty is rife and getting worse but much of this is the product of globalisation (and some in part due to lack of skill among people locally in managing their monetary affairs. Globalisation is having the effect of lowering the living standards for the ordinary majority (though much of this has been hidden by borrowing) while a cocooned elite (which now includes among others our MPs) have been made rich beyond their wildest dreams.
Where I think criticism can be levelled at the Liberal Democrats is over their decision to introduce town councils in Nelson and Colne. This has been justified in part by the fact that it will add just £30 or so a year to the Council Tax but when folks are really struggling it is another £30 they can ill-afford to lose. Again the way in which this is presented by the ruling elites betrays their detachment and lack of concern for ordinary folks. This additional tax burden on households is coming just at the very point when times are getting tough. This, in my view, is a truly crazy thing for the Liberal Democrats to do, but that, as they say, is politics.
[quote][bold]Jim[/bold] wrote:
We barely heard anything from the Libdems before the closure... Now they're campaigning to re-open it. What's that saying about closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted. Typical Lib Dem non-action.[/quote] Just to set the record straight, Ann Kerrigan and myself campaigned and collected hundreds of names over the loss of modern matrons at BGH some 12 months ago.The Lib Dems both in Burnley Pendle and Rossendale have been campaigning ever since .Non action ,Jim you need to get out more.
Jim wrote:
We barely heard anything from the Libdems before the closure... Now they're campaigning to re-open it. What's that saying about closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted. Typical Lib Dem non-action.
Just to set the record straight, Ann Kerrigan and myself campaigned and collected hundreds of names over the loss of modern matrons at BGH some 12 months ago.The Lib Dems both in Burnley Pendle and Rossendale have been campaigning ever since .Non action ,Jim you need to get out more.
I can confirm that Dorothy and Anne did raise a petition. I know this because I signed it. It didn't make a happeth of difference mind but that issue lies with the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust not local councillors.
I can confirm that Dorothy and Anne did raise a petition. I know this because I signed it. It didn't make a happeth of difference mind but that issue lies with the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust not local councillors.
Typical of the Liberals. They always play on peoples emotions!! Collecting signatures for a cause where they clearly knew that they had very little influence even though they run Pendle and Burnley Councils.
Typical of the Liberals. They always play on peoples emotions!! Collecting signatures for a cause where they clearly knew that they had very little influence even though they run Pendle and Burnley Councils.
I agree with Colne lady. Dorothy Lord seems to join any campaign going just for the sak of publicity. Can she tell us what she has saved as a result of her campaigns....anythin
g she seems to be involved in is doomed
I agree with Colne lady. Dorothy Lord seems to join any campaign going just for the sak of publicity. Can she tell us what she has saved as a result of her campaigns....anythin
g she seems to be involved in is doomed
Posted by: Azhar, Brierfield on 4:18pm Thu 17 Apr 08
Despite all the petitions and marches thru the streets of Nelson and Burnley we still haven't been able to persuade local health chiefs to reverese their decision.
Gordon Prentice, Dorothy Lord, Ann Kerrigan and many other politicians fought to keep our service
All parties at the time were united in their efforts to keep the A&E service but it saddens me to see it being made into a political football.
Its no use blaming the government when the decisions are taken locally by unelected heath chiefs. In Colne the libs are seeking credit for a new health centre when its the PCT looking to build it.
I would like to make a plea to all Councillors to unite & stop using political slogans and put patients first rather than ego's or votes..
The staff are the backbone of the NHS ..LETS ALL SUPPORT THEM AND HOLD THE PCT and hospital board accountable.
Despite all the petitions and marches thru the streets of Nelson and Burnley we still haven't been able to persuade local health chiefs to reverese their decision.
Gordon Prentice, Dorothy Lord, Ann Kerrigan and many other politicians fought to keep our service
All parties at the time were united in their efforts to keep the A&E service but it saddens me to see it being made into a political football.
Its no use blaming the government when the decisions are taken locally by unelected heath chiefs. In Colne the libs are seeking credit for a new health centre when its the PCT looking to build it.
I would like to make a plea to all Councillors to unite & stop using political slogans and put patients first rather than ego's or votes..
The staff are the backbone of the NHS ..LETS ALL SUPPORT THEM AND HOLD THE PCT and hospital board accountable.
Posted by: Nostradamos, Blackburn on 11:49am Fri 18 Apr 08
I live in Blackburn but i would strongly support an A&E service back at Burnley,i think there is a disaister waiting to happen here,recently on my way back from a Rovers game i needed to access the M65 and in all honesty this took me a full 45 mnts from the new A&E at Queens park this would be useless for anyone who needed urgent treatment at that partic time,both sides of the road were jammed,ok there are only circa 21 home games a year but it only takes one major incedent to coincide with this and many deaths will occur that in truth can be avoided,but as with most things these accidents will have to happen before anything is done,common sense tells you that the pendle /Burnley area needs a service of there own,after all we keep getting told how much BETTER the health service is under new labtor(and that isnt a spelling mistake..lol)
I live in Blackburn but i would strongly support an A&E service back at Burnley,i think there is a disaister waiting to happen here,recently on my way back from a Rovers game i needed to access the M65 and in all honesty this took me a full 45 mnts from the new A&E at Queens park this would be useless for anyone who needed urgent treatment at that partic time,both sides of the road were jammed,ok there are only circa 21 home games a year but it only takes one major incedent to coincide with this and many deaths will occur that in truth can be avoided,but as with most things these accidents will have to happen before anything is done,common sense tells you that the pendle /Burnley area needs a service of there own,after all we keep getting told how much BETTER the health service is under new labtor(and that isnt a spelling mistake..lol)
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