What matters to you at the JR

There is an open meeting on 19 October to give members of the public an opportunity to comment on hospital services

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals: tell us what matters to you
Wednesday 19 October 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Tea and coffee available from 6.00pm
Lecture Room, George Pickering Education Centre
Level 3, John Radcliffe Hospital
Following a very successful engagement event on 11 April 2011 to discuss the quality of our service, the Trust is holding a follow up event for patients, clinicians and other people who kindly gave us their time to give us their views. We would like to invite you to come and help us make sure that your experiences in our hospitals are even better.
Please contact Laura Carpenter to register. Limited places available.
Email: laura.carpenter@orh.nhs.uk

Lib Dems delivering for Britain. Part 8. Your community

Here is the latest in our series showing the Lib Dem manifesto in action

Lib Dem manifesto p.76 

“We will end the detention of children in immigration detention centres”

On 16 December, Nick Clegg announced the ending of child detention for immigration purposes.

Lib Dem manifesto p.83

“Through our policy on capital gains tax, ensure that those who use second homes as speculative investments will pay tax on enhanced capital value at the same rate as on earned income, not 18% as at present.”

In June’s emergency budget, we increased the rate of Capital Gains Tax to 28% for higher rate taxpayers while keeping it at 18% for basic rate taxpayers

Lib Dem manifesto p.77

 “In a fair society, everyone should have the right to a decent home, but this is not the reality of Britain today. There should be quality social and private rented housing available for those who need or choose it.”

We have announced plans for 150,000 new affordable homes over the next four years, the first net increase in the social housing stock by any government in 30 years.

Lib Dem manifesto p.77

We will make sure every new home is fully energy efficient by improving building regulations”

We have required a 25% improvement in energy efficiency standards for new buildings.

Lib Dem manifesto p.78 

 “We will scrap burdensome Home Information Packs, retaining the requirement for homes to have an energy performance certificate”

We have scrapped Home Information Packs, and retained the requirement for homes to have an energy performance certificate

 Lib Dem manifesto p.82

“We will stop ‘garden grabbing’ by defining gardens as Greenfield sites in planning law so that they cannot easily be built over”

We have ended ‘garden grabbing’ saving considerable amounts of green belt land from being built over

Lib Dem manifesto p.83

“We will promote schemes for affordable homes like equity mortgages and ‘Home on the Farm’ which encourages farmers to convert existing buildings into affordable housing”

We have promoted ‘Home on the Farm’ schemes that encourage farmers to convert existing buildings into affordable housing

Lib Dem manifesto p.74

“We will make prisoners work and contribute from their prison wages to a compensation fund for victims.”

The government’s sentencing green paper included proposals for ‘working prisons’ to get prisoners used to working regular hours, and to contribute toward financial reparations for victims.

Lib Dem manifesto p.75

“We will give people a direct say in how petty criminals and those who engage in antisocial behaviour are punished by setting up Neighbourhood Justice Panels”

The sentencing green paper also included proposals for increasing the opportunities for communities to become involved in local justice through Neighbourhood Justice Panels

Lib Dem manifesto p.75

“Champion restorative justice programmes which make offenders confront their behaviour and are more successful at reducing crime.”

The sentencing green paper also includes proposals to make more use of restorative justice as a more effective punishment

Lib Dem manifesto p.74

“Move offenders who are drug addicts or mentally ill into more appropriate secure accommodation”

As of June 2011 we will pilot drug recovery wings in priosons, reviewing this in June 2012 with a view to working with the Department of Health to roll it out more widely.

The sentencing green paper proposes to pilot and roll out liaison and diversion services nationally by 2014 for mentally ill offenders who present a high risk of harm where this is linked to a severe personality disorder

Lib Dem manifesto p. 73

“Require better recording of hate crime against disabled, homosexual and transgender people”

In December 2010 Lynne Heatherstone launched the government’s new equalities strategy, which includes a commitment to promote better recording of, and response to, hate crimes.

Lib Dem manifesto p.79

“Include promotion of safer cycling and pedestrian routes in all local transport plans”

In September Norman Baker announced plans for a new Local Sustainable Transport Fund to challenge local transport authorities outside London to develop packages of measures that support economic growth and reduce carbon in their communities, as well as delivering cleaner environments, improved safety and increased levels of physical activity.

Lib Dems delivering for Britain. Part 4.Your life: health

Part 4 of our series on the Lib Dem manifesto in practice

Lib Dem manifesto p.41

“Integrate health and social care to create a seamless service, ending bureaucratic barriers and saving money to allow people to stay in their homes for longer rather than going into hospital or long-term residential care”

Around 35,000 people will benefit from a £70m cash boost announced by the Coalition that will enable the NHS to support people back into their homes after a spell in hospital.

Lib Dem manifesto p.40

“We will…scrap Strategic Health Authorities”

The government white paper on health states that we will scrap Strategic Health Authorities.

Lib Dem manifesto  p.43

“Giving every patient the right to choose to register with the GP they want, without being restricted  by where they live.”

The NHS white paper states that we will give every patient a clear right to choose to register with any GP practice they want with an open list, without being restricted by where they live.

Lib Dem manifesto  p.41

“We will prioritise dementia research within the health research and development budget”

The Treasury confirmed in October that this commitment on dementia research will be prioritised within health research and development. Paul Burstow is now personally overseeing this commitment through his role as Chair of a Ministerial Advisory Group by ensuring that dementia researchers get a fair share of the £1.7bn research fund. Plans will be published in the New Year to accelerate the pace in this vital area of research.

Lib Dem manifesto  p.41

“We will improve access to counselling for people with mental health problems, by continuing the roll-out of cognitive and behavioural therapies”

The spending review included funding to expand access to talking therapies, including those with severe mental illness, and for the first time children and adolescents. We have already committed £70m this year to give more people the opportunity to access talking therapies. This funding will help tackle the devastating human cost of mental health by ensuring that the right action is taken early in people’s lives. By March 2011, services will be offered to around 60% of the country, increasing to 100% by 2014.

NHS cuts – coming soon!

David and I support the stand local Oxford East Liberal Democrats candidate Steve Goddard is taking against the massive £240m NHS cuts in Oxford.

Steve said:

Reports that NHS Oxfordshire would have to find £240m of savings over the next three years are proving to be true. This morning it is reported that this year the health service in Oxford will have to find £45m of savings. For all Labour’s talk about protecting the NHS and attacks on other parties for being honest about the deficit, we can clearly see now what they are going to do – cut frontline services. Patient care will be hit as hospitals are being told to admit fewer patients, for less time. Patient care and jobs are at risk because of Labour’s boom and bust approach to public services. These Labour cuts need to be stopped.

Labour’s refusal to name specific deficit reduction measures, unlike the Liberal Democrats, is clearly leading to a situation where panic is setting in and vital services are slashed. Why they have spent time attacking sensible proposals to cut costs, like scrapping ID cards and Trident, instead of clearly planning how to tackle the financial problems from the recession that they have presided over is beyond belief. For Labour in Oxford East politics has taken precedence over protecting key services. That is unforgivable.

Residents can sign Steve’s petition against the cuts here

Pushy mothers..

Natalie Lella is organising a programme for young mothers to get out and about and take some exercise. Her Headington class takes place at Bury Knowle Park, Thursday mornings, 9.30am-10.30am.   If you want to contact her, here are her details and you can also find information on Daily Info, Gumtree and Netmums/Baby Directory.

Her web page is here.  Her class in University Parks is oversubscribed, so sign up quickly!


Oxford PCT advice on swine flu

2.0 Summary of Advice to public

If a member of the public has recently visited one of the countries or areas where human cases of influenza have been identified, and are well, there is no need for them to isolate themselves from other people as long as they remain well.If during the first 7 days of return from aboard, they develop a feverish illness accompanied by one or more of cough, sore throat, headache and muscle aches, they should follow the advice below:

·         stay at home and

·         contact their GP by phone or

·         seek advice from NHS Direct (0845 4647) or

·         Ring the Influenza Information Line: 0800 151 3513 (pre-recorded information and advice – this line is not manned by staff)Those with symptoms should avoid attending their local GP practice or hospital emergency department, where possible. The individual should make sure that they tell those from whom they are seeking advice about their recent travel to an area affected. Depending on their symptoms they may be advised that further investigations may be necessary.

General infection control practices and good respiratory hand hygiene can help to reduce transmission of all viruses, including the human swine influenza.  This includes:

  • Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, using a tissue when possible (Catch it!)
  • Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully (Bin it!)
  • Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to face or to other people (Kill it!)
  • Cleaning hard surfaces (e.g. door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product
  • Making sure your children follow this advice

It is important to stress that swine influenza virus is not transmitted by food. There is no risk of catching the illness from eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products.