Health Professionals – declare your views on Radiotherapy Unit at Kidderminster Hospital

I have asked for local health professionals to come out and declare their support for a Radiotherapy Unit at Kidderminster Hospital. The decision makers need to know there is massive local support and that a Radiotherapy Unit would be a sustainable and efficient policy option for Kidderminster Hospital. We now have 3,707 signatures on the petition and the number is growing very quickly. There is a real need for it to be based at Kidderminster.I have met many local patients and ex patients who have received radiotherapy treatment who had to travel to Wolverhampton or Birmingham. At the time when they are not at all well, many have to either drive themselves, take a bus or gain a lift for the 40 plus miles round trip. Yes, I realise Worcester Royal is a General Hospital with more facilities and staff than Kidderminster Hospital, but new staff could be placed at Kidderminster Hospital to facilitate a Radiotherapy Unit. So come on you health professionals, please express your support for us in Kidderminster and challenge the status-quo bandwagon rush for Worcester.

Please sign the online Radiotherapy Petition

An Invitation to Supporters of Other Political Parties in Wyre Forest

The greatest political disaster that could befall Wyre Forest people would be the election of a Conservative MP.
The only party that can now stop this happening to you is LABOUR!

We live in a two-party electoral system and we must do EVERYTHING in our power to stop the Tories in Wyre Forest.
Therefore, I am asking supporters of: The Liberal Democrats, Hospital Campaigners in Health Concern and Liberals to tactically vote Labour at the next general election and back the only party that can stop Mark Garnier and the Tories. If the anti-Tory vote is divided, then we all face disaster.

In the Labour Party, we take on board the concerns and issues of other parties and groups. I have tirelessly supported the cause of Kidderminster Hospital and I am currently leading the campaign for an urgent care centre and a radiotherapy unit.

I was born in Worcestershire, and raised in Wyre Forest and I still live here. I have been a community campaigner for many years, and sometimes I have been the last person campaigning on an issue for Wyre Forest people. I beleive that my record is a good one in representing local people and their causes.

The Labour government has made great improvements to the lives of people in Wyre Forest in terms of: living standards, justice for pensioners (pension credits and winter fuel allowance), education and childcare (Sure start, improved school achievements,) the NHS (The Treatment Centre, Minor Injuries Unit and massive increases in NHS spending) and

ONLY NIGEL KNOWLES AND LABOUR CAN STOP THE TORIES. – IN THE UK ELECTION SYSTEM, A VOTE FOR HEALTH CONCERN, THE LIBERAL-DEMOCRATS OR THE LIBERALS IS A VOTE FOR THE TORIES.

DO YOU REALLY WANT A TORY MP?

VOTE TORY IN WYRE FOREST? – NO THANKS!

As at least six Tory MPs have publicly called for David Cameron to step down as Tory leader, as he visits Rwanda during the Worcestershire and Gloucestershire floods, we ponder what life would be like under an unlikely Tory Government.

We would lose the minimum wage that provides a minimum income protection for 2.5 million workers.

MARK GARNIER AND THE TORIES WILL TAKE AWAY THE MINIMUM WAGE AND MANY OTHER EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

We would lose pension credits that provide an income boost for over 4500 pensioner households in Wyre Forest

MARK GARNIER AND THE TORIES WILL STOP PENSION CREDITS AND WINTER FUEL ALLOWANCE

We would lose the working families tax credits that boost the incomes of over 8500 families in Wyre Forest that would be classed as poor.

MARK GARNIER AND THE TORIES WILL STOP WORKING FAMILY TAX CREDITS

The Sure Start Scheme which has provided nursery care, an integrated child services for five communities in Wyre Forest. This is Labour’s proudest achievement in Wyre Forest and we will build more Sure Start centres.

MARK GARNIER AND THE TORIES WILL SHUT SURE START

The Tories would take us back to tax cuts for the rich, mass unemployment, massive waiting lists in the NHS. Crime would rise, as the police and Community Service Officers would be starved of funding and resources. Pensioners, families with children will all be hit hardest by the Tories.

Petition for a Radiotherapy Unit at Kidderminster Hospital – Update

The petition is going fantastically well, with over 1,500 signatures from Wyre Forest residents and others living in neighbouring counties. Collecting signatures on Street Stalls has proven successful and we shall be having extra stalls at Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday 28th July at 11am, and at Stourport on 4th August  at 11am outside the Housing Office, High Street (Old Post Office)

I am also asking for an Urgent Care Centre for Kidderminster Hospital.

Please sign the online Radiotherapy Petition

Flood Damage

Wyre Forest and Worcestershire have suffered very badly from floods caused by heavy rain in the last few weeks. I have written to John Healey MP Minister for Communities and Local Government. I agree with Michael Cashman MEP also that if the West Midlands joined with East Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber, we could perhaps claim funding from the European Union. The trigger for damage relief costs is 3 billion euros, and it could be that much in our three regions. I asked specifically for financial help for residents in Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley, as well as for help to the County for road and bridge repair. (Liam Byrne Minister for West Midlands also recieved a copy of my letter)

Casinos Lose Out – Hoorah

No super casinos is the message from the PM Gordon Brown today. How very sensible. Gambling is no way to generate economic or social activity.  Better to put financial resources into health, education, housing, and hi-tech jobs. Excellent Choice – all bets off!

Urgent Care Centre at Kidderminster Hospital

I support this policy option. Labour Government I understand, will introduce these Urgent Care Centres to supplement A&E Departments, and upgrade Minor Injury Units. Worcester Royal is an extremely busy site. There is also the prospect that an Urgent Care Centre could be situated in Worcester City (not at the Royal) Therefore I’m starting a petition for an Urgent Care Centre to be placed at Kidderminster Hospital.

Please sign the online Radiotherapy Petition

Radiotherapy Update

The Petition is going extremely well. I have written to our new Health Secretary Alan Johnson urging him to support a Radiotherapy Cancer Unit for Kidderminster Hospital and new Minister Lord Professor Ara Darzi who is responsible for a NHS Review. He also was engaged in the review of services at Kidderminster Hospital in 2000/2001. I met him and he said he would be supportive of new services being brought to Kidderminster Hospital. I sent him a Petition and asked him to support my campaign.

Please sign the online Radiotherapy Petition

You can also sign the online Urgent Care Centre Petition