World Haemophilia Day reception – which I attend. Having been tangentially involved with haemophilia since one of my sister’s twins was born with it (out of the blue) 30 years ago. So I know a thing or two. Haemophilia itself is bad enough. Bleeding doesn’t stop and you have to inject clotting agents made up of Factor 8 from blood donations. But the blood donations have been contaminated over recent years with HIV AIDS, Hepatitis C and now CJD.
I wrote a column on the subject back in 2001, as a safe form of Factor 8 had been developed but was not available to haemophiliacs over the age of 16. So every time a boy or man over 16 had to have Factor 8 – they risked getting these diseases. And many, many of the haemophilia population have been infected with something through the Government’s penny pinching over not allowing safe Factor 8 and also, in the beginning, the use of contaminated blood knowingly.
A very short while ago the Government, under immense pressure, was forced into extending the safe version of Factor 8 to all ages. Thank heavens for that – but after so many were already infected. Now there is a fight on for compensation to be increased to those who got AIDS etc through contaminated blood. The original levels of compensation were based on very limited survival – but of course, now those with HIV and AIDS live longer and so higher compensation to cover these longer lifespans is appropriate..
Battles go on and always will – but the history of Government on this issue is one of shame.
Environmental Audit committee is a hoot. It’s my old stomping ground of transport under the spotlight – and the witnesses are from the GLA. Strikes me though that not much has really advanced over recent years. The Congestion Charge was the big idea – and the money poured into expanding London’s bus network has expanded London’s bus network – hallelujah! But ultimately it’s going to have to be about changing behaviour – reducing the need to travel and getting people to think outside of their box(cars). Long, long way to go.
Last event of the day was to speak at the Islington, Highgate and Muswell Hill Rotarian Club – which turned out to be a very pleasant evening held at Highgate Golf Club. I’ve only ever been as far as the drive into the club – as the houses peter out there so my leaflet delivery does too.
As we are in the middle of the local elections, I decided to avoid political stuff and gave a sort of personal and blue skies thinking address. There were some lively questions and one cheeky elderly gent dared to suggest that as ‘cream rises to the top’ so should Parliamentarians – and that’s why there weren’t more women in Parliament and in fact those put there by Labour’s all-women shortlists were incompetent and ordinary. I jokingly retorted that from my experience so far there were plenty of incompetent and ordinary males there – in fact a majority. But I took the discussion onto the fact that Parliament is no longer full of ‘great’ politicians; it is changing – and the mystery around the individual statesman is gone too with the advent of 24 hours news. Anyway – my chosen subjects for the evening were housing and crime and much thought provoking made for a good evening, I hope, for all.
Matt Davies – who has been my colleague on Haringey Council for the past four years (he’s one of the Lib Dem councillors for Fortis Green) – is running the London marathon to raise money for Amnesty – a very good cause, especially in these current times.
Lynne Featherstone 