Showing posts with label Hammersmith and Fulham Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hammersmith and Fulham Council. Show all posts

Wednesday 2 December 2015

Mansfied Report report says Shaping a Healthier Future programme threaten fundamental principles of the NHS and provide “no realistic prospect of achieving good quality accessible healthcare for all.”

Hammersmith and Fulham Council have issued this release on the Mansfied Report

One of the country’s biggest hospital shake-ups is deeply flawed, likely to exacerbate a deteriorating situation, a threat to the fundamental principles of a universal NHS and should be halted immediately, according to a landmark report from the Independent Healthcare Commission chaired by Michael Mansfield QC.

NHS North West London’s Shaping a Healthier Future (SaHF) programme has already seen the hugely controversial closures of two A&E departments, at Hammersmith and Central Middlesex hospitals and the closure of Ealing maternity unit. Further downgrading of Ealing hospital is planned, along with the closure and sale of the majority of Charing Cross hospital site.

The Independent Commission also uncovered shocking details of spiralling management and consultancy costs. At the same time, a crisis is developing in emergency services, with GP services clearly failing to meet demand across the region, contributing to a crisis in A&E performance.
Independent Healthcare Commission Chair Michael Mansfield QC said:
“The findings of the Independent Healthcare Commission for North West London are stark - the reforms, both proposed and implemented thus far, are deeply flawed. There is no realistic prospect of achieving good quality accessible healthcare for all, and any further implementation is likely to exacerbate a deteriorating situation.
“Our recommendations are equally stark. It is the view of the Commission that the Shaping a Healthier Future programme should be halted immediately, and that the affected councils should consider a legal challenge if it is taken forward in the current circumstances.”

“At the very core of any decent civil society is the imperative to ensure that the individuals and communities who make up that society have sustainable access to good quality healthcare. The response from North West London NHS, flowing top down from central government, has singularly failed to deliver on this imperative, with all indications pointing to a further deterioration in the future.

“It is crystal clear that the impact of fragmentation through privatisation is slowly eroding what was a National Health Service, a development that ran like a thread through much of the evidence given at our public hearings. In so many ways, the catalogue of failings, missed opportunities and profligacy we have seen in North West London act as a microcosm of a wider malaise across the English NHS. As such, though this report focuses on the NHS in North West London, it should act as a warning call to the top of government.”
Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council Cllr Stephen Cowan said:
“People across west London have been horrified to see their treasured NHS deteriorating so quickly – and so unnecessarily. They have protested, sent in petitions and begged local health chiefs to stop this madness, and are furious that local NHS bosses have ignored them for so long. My council colleagues shared this anger, commissioning the Independent Healthcare Commission, and in doing so keeping our pledge to fight for local health services.

“Today’s report from Michael Mansfield QC is a watershed moment. Rigorous, thorough, detailed and rightly independent, the review provides indisputable evidence that these changes to local health services are badly planned, hugely costly and causing life-threatening failures in local healthcare. The only sane decision is to put a halt to them right now.”
The reports key recommendations are:
  • The Shaping a Healthier Future programme must be halted immediately
  • North West London local authorities should consider their options for launching a legal challenge if a decision is taken to press ahead with the programme in the current circumstances.
  • The report’s key findings are:
  • Cutbacks are being targeted on the most deprived communities
  • The public consultation was inadequate and flawed
  • The escalating cost of the programme (£1bn) does not represent value for money and is a waste of precious public resources
  • There is no business plan to show the reconfiguration is affordable or deliverable
  • NHS facilities have been closed without adequate alternative provision being put in place
  • The plans seriously underestimate the increasing size of the population in North West London and fail to address the increasing need for services
In today’s landmark commission report, Michael Mansfield QC also recommends that:
  • Ealing and Charing Cross hospitals must retain full ‘blue light’ A&E services for the foreseeable future
  • The decision to close Ealing maternity unit should be reversed with immediate effect
  • The A&E department at Central Middlesex Hospital should be re-opened
  • The National Audit Office should undertake a review of the value for money of the programme
  • A new public consultation is needed as the proposals have changed significantly
  • Substantial investment should be made in GP and out-of-hospital services, which are clearly overwhelmed and inconsistent.
Read the Independent Healthcare Commission for North West London's final report» (pdf 819KB)

Monday 2 June 2014

Sulivan Primary closure put on hold


Stephen Cowan, the incoming Labour leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, has announced that the closure of Sulivan Primary School has been put on hold pending the decision of the new adminstration. LINK

Sulivan staff and parents launched a campaign against the former Tory adminstration's plans to close the school and to give the land to Fulham Boys' Free School. The Sulivan pupils were to be transferred to another primary schooll which was on the road to academisation.

The new Council's plans for the building of more  afforadble housing is expected to increase demand for school places in the area.

The news is very welcome, not least for the preservation of the unique outdoor space at Sulivan, the loss of which would have been an act of educational and environmental vandalism.

Congratulations once again to the Sulivan campaigners for their tenacity.


Wednesday 4 December 2013

Hopeless Clegg fails to address Sulivan Primary School scandal

Hammersmith and Fulham Council plan to close successful Sulivan Primary School to hand the site over to Fulham Boys' Free School. Surely something the Lib Dems wouldn't approve of?

Sorry,to disenchant you but the video speaks for itself: Clegg continue;s to be Cameron's poodle. And does Michael Gove look even remotely interested?


Monday 2 September 2013

Save Our Sulivan school is a child-centred campaign that deserves our whole-hearted support


Outside Hammersmith Town Hall

Parents, pupils, teachers and governors  lobbied the Hammersmith and Fulham Council at Hammersmith Town Hall this evening to try and save Sulivan Primary School. 'Save Our Hospitals' campaigner were there in  support.

The Council want to  move the pupils to nearby New Kings School to enable a Free School for 800 boys to take over the Sulivan site. The sting in the tail of this proposal is that New King's has decided to become an academy with private sponsorship, contrary to the values of Sulivan Primary.

The 'consultation' took place, as so many do, when people were away for the long summer holiday.

The campaign website describes Sulivan School LINK:
  • It is rated ‘GOOD WITH OUTSTANDING FEATURES’
  • It is full in nursery and reception – 299 parents have chosen Sulivan
  • It has earned some of its highest results ever in recent years with amazing achievement and progress
  • It is a small, beautiful school with lovely grounds including large play areas and an outdoor science laboratory
The demonstration began at 5.30pm at this last Cabinet before the consultation.  The Council had refused to hear a delegation on technical grounds but eventually they were given 5 minutes to present their case

It is clear from the comments that have been circulating on Twitter @SaveOurSulivan  that Sulivan is exactly the sort of small, family-centred , creative school that we in the Green Party favour and it is great to see it getting such vociferous support from parents. They deserve maximum support.

Here are some of the Twitter comments:
'Learning for life' -and Learning outside!! Lets keep it that way! 

 we have wonderful courgette flowers in the sulivan school garden ready for eating - yum yum - how many schools can report that!

'oh what a perfect place, we want to keep it our Sulivan school' name the song!!

Sulivan children bake cookies to help save their school! council can't say no to a cookie baked with such love 

 Amazing Gardens for exploring, cooking, science and conservation. Children don't want bricks - they want EARTH

 Sulivan is one of the top performing primaries in - and in high demand. Closing us makes ZERO sense.

  we cook fab meals from kitchen garden for the children and they also have their own kitchen - we even cook for the Lycee

  31 Aug
Not in my Borough, but I'll mention . want to shut Sulivan Primary School to open another lardy di da free school!

 Very sad to try and remove the opportunities Sulivan gives to poor local children of all cultures.

 Our chn learn science, data collecting, conservation. Some see this 'too good 4 our chn' - we don't

 Children in portacabins so that the property can be fixed up at our cost and given away to a private school chain

 Local children in are petitioning to save their school! Support the youth of the community - help Save Sulivan

Saturday 18 August 2012

Brent Council MUST do more to fight A&E closure

Ealing Council continues to put Brent in the shade as far as fighting for the health care of its local community goes. Brent Council has passed a resolution opposing the closure of Central Middlesex A&E and leader Muhammed Butt has agreed to speak at the march on September 15th but that's about it.

Ealing Council has been actively leading their local campaign and delivered leaflets and posters to every household i the brough. They are distributing 25,000 leaflets in the top 9 community languages and advertising on bus shelters and buses. A further household leaflet distribution will be made to advertise the planned March.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has also been proactive as can be seen in the extract from their website below:

Join the 'Save Hammersmith' campaign

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is urging people to join it in campaigning to save Hammersmith hospital's A&E department.
The council says:
  • Closing the A&E at Hammersmith could leave large numbers of residents dangerously far away from emergency care.
  • No evidence has been provided that moving services to St Marys, in Paddington, would improve outcomes for residents.
  • With thousands of news homes and jobs coming to the borough, we need more local capacity, not less.

Save our hospitals - public meeting

- Do you agree with the NHS plans to downgrade local hospitals?
- Are you worried about having to travel out of borough to receive urgent medical care?
- This is your chance to question NHS bosses and have your say!  
Hammersmith Town Hall
Tuesday, September 18
7:00pm


» Download a summary of the NHS hospitals proposals
(pdf 109KB)
» Download a map of proposed NHS hospital closures (pdf 527KB)
» Message from Cllr Marcus Ginn, cabinet member for community care

Lend you voice to our campaign:

Take part in the NHS consultation - closes October 8, 2012
Have your say

Read your stories


Sign our petitions:

Sign our petition

Share your stories

Like us on Facebook


Volunteer to collect signatures:

Contact us for a campaign pack by emailing us at savehammersmith@lbhf.gov.uk.


Download petitions:

» Download a Save Hammersmith hospital poster (pdf 16KB)
» Download a postcard to send to your doctor (pdf 54KB)
» Download a printable petition to pass to your neighbours  (pdf 81KB)


Send us your stories:

We want the NHS to understand what their plans mean to our lives by publishing your stories. Have our hospitals saved yur life or helped a loved-one? Email us your story and a picture: savehammersmith@lbhf.gov.uk.


Read and comment:

» Waiting times to soar under 'half baked' A&E closure plan
» Charing Cross health services to ‘fit in a gym’
» Expert to dissect NHS hospital downgrade plan
» Closing stroke centre 'will put lives at risk'
» No show for botched NHS road show
» Doctors 'sceptical' on A&E closures
» H&F residents speak out on hospital cuts
» Battle to save local hospital services begins
» Save Charing Cross hospital
» Councillors quiz health bosses over accident and emergency closure plans
» Mass A&E closure threat across west London
» Charing Cross downgrade a reality - vascular surgery moves to St Mary's
» Warning over brain surgery plans - brain surgeons move to St Mary's
» Support Charing Cross - major trauma centre - Charing Cross loses out to St Mary's
This is a chance for Brent Council to try and recover some of its credibility by showing that it is capable of standing up and mounting a strong campaign in partnership with the local community.  The e-petition urging it to do just that is HERE

 The petition reads:

We, the undersigned, petition Brent Council to do all in its power to prevent the closure of the Accident and Emergency Department at Central Middlesex Hospital. This will include making the case against the closure and seeking support for this position on all appropriate bodies on which the council is represented.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

> North West London NHS is consulting on proposals in 'Shaping A Healthier Future' which would mean that Central Middlesex Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department, already closed overnight, will close for good. This is likely to be the first step in the complete down-grading of the hospital and its potential closure in the long term.

> The hospital serves some of the most deprived wards of South Brent which have poor transport links with Northwick Park Hospital, the likely alternative A & E.

> The area is the location of major roads including the North Circular and the Harrow Road; railway lines including the Euston-Birmingham main line, Overground, Bakerloo, Chiltern, Metropolitan and Jubilee lines, a major industrial area in Park Royal; as well as waste management and other potentially pollution causing processing plants in the Neasden area. The area also includes the major venues at Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena.

> All of the above are potential locations for major incidents necessitating ready access to an Accident and Emergency facility.

> Ealing Council has already committed itself to actively fighting the proposals and Brent Council should do the same.

Saturday 22 October 2011

Park Royal Plans Under Scrutiny on New Blog

The boroughs of Brent, Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham meet at the key location of Park Royal, one of the largest business parks in Europe. The area is a possible location for waste management facilities, including possible incinerators, under the forthcoming West London waste Management Plan. If located here there will be an impact on the amount of heavy lorry traffic going through the three boroughs. Possible waste management facilities can be seen on the map below: (click on image to enlarge)

In addition the area will be affected by High Speed Rail 2 and Crossrail. Hammersmith and Fulham Council is proposing a new station linking the two and other lines as part of the development of the run-down Old Oak area. The council's video designates it 'Park Royal City':


A new  independent website has been set up to monitor developments in the Park Royal-Old Oak Common-Kensal area. It can be found at: http://parkroyaltown.blogspot.com/