Labour’s stewardship of the NHS has left “a legacy of missed opportunities” according to local MP Lynne Featherstone, after research revealed that Haringey’s levels of childhood obesity are higher and life expectancy lower than the England average after 13 years of Labour government.
Despite announcing in 1997 that reducing health inequality would be a key priority for the new Labour government, figures show that in Haringey, childhood obesity and life expectancy still lag behind the national average.
A report from the Public Accounts Committee also found that the gap in life expectancy between the poorest areas and the national average grew by 7% for men and 14% for women over the last 13 years. The report also revealed that people living in the poorest neighbourhoods in England die almost two years before those in the rest of the country.
Under proposals put forward in the Health and Social Care Bill by the Coalition Government the responsibility for public health will be returned to local government. By giving Local Authorities the responsibility for commissioning the majority of public health services, local communities will be empowered to come together to tackle the challenges they face.
After 13 years of Labour Government:
o Britain has amongst the worst levels of obesity in the world.
o Smoking claims over 80,000 lives a year.
o 1.6 million people are dependent on alcohol.
o Over half a million new sexually transmitted infections were diagnosed last year, and one in ten people getting an infection will be re-infected within a year.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“New Labour entered government in 1997 and announced that they would put reducing health inequalities at the heart of tackling the root causes of ill-health. Instead after 13 years of government Labour’s real legacy is a story of missed opportunities.
“Tackling health inequality only became a NHS priority in 2006, and primary care trusts were not required to report back on them until 2007. That is why in Haringey we have among the highest levels of childhood obesity in the country.
“Councils are best placed to bring together all the local agencies who can work together to tackle public health challenges. The Coalition’s proposals to return the responsibility for public health to local government will ensure that tackling health inequalities and improving people’s health is given a local focus to fit local circumstances.
“As a result of these changes, local government won’t just be commentators on health but will instead have a new role shaping the direction of local health services.”
Category Archives: News releases
Lynne Featherstone MP speaks to local students about lobbying and campaigning
To help inspire students to engage in the local community and make a difference through campaigning and lobbying, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday spoke to year ten at Highgate School.
The Hornsey and Wood Green MP was speaking to the students as part of their citizenship class about the workings of Parliament, lobbying MPs, and what can be achieved through local campaigning. The Liberal Democrat MP gave the students a range of examples of where the local community has come together to effect change, like the successful 603 bus campaign, and the campaign to save the Whittington A&E.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“It’s pretty amazing the way things can be changed when local people come together to fight for a cause. I have seen it over and over again as a local MP.
“It was great to be able to show the young people here today that it can be done, and that as a citizen you have the opportunity to influence politics and the world around us. And they sure are an inquisitive lot, so I guess it’s just a matter of time before they start lobbying me on Government policy!”
Lynne Featherstone and local Liberal Democrats launch campaign on better access to GPs
Haringey Liberal Democrats have just launched a campaign to make sure residents living near the Borough boundary can access GPs in neighbouring boroughs.
The action comes after residents in Stroud Green have complained of not being allowed to register with GPs surgeries just over the border in Islington.
Last Friday, Lynne Featherstone MP, Stroud Green Cllr Katherine Reece and Health Spokesperson Cllr David Winskill launched a GP survey to hear from residents in Stroud Green about their access to GPs. The health campaign is also looking at access to NHS dentists and gathering residents’ opinions on the standard of local health services.
Local councillors Katherine Reece and Richard Wilson have already met with NHS Haringey who acknowledge that registering with a GP can be a serious problem for residents in Stroud Green.
Nationally the Liberal Democrats in government are pushing to give patients the right to choose to register with the GP they want, without being restricted by where they live.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“It’s ridiculous that residents on the north side of Stroud Green Road cannot always use GPs on the south side of the road due to bureaucratic wrangling.
“We are surveying residents in Stroud Green to find out just how bad the situation is, and will be bringing the results to health bosses.”
Stroud Green Councillor Katherine Reece adds:
“It’s great that Liberal Democrats in Government are working on changing the rules about where you can register for your GP. We want to do our bit here in Stroud Green.
“However Islington PCT is refusing to recognise there is a problem with cross-border GP access. We hope this survey of local residents will change their minds and force them to work with GPs to widen access.”
Lynne Featherstone MP meets top police boss over worries of cuts to Safer Neighbourhood Teams
Police bosses in Haringey have given assurances that local residents’ safety concerns will be paramount to any decision on the future of Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) following a meeting, last week, with Lynne Featherstone MP and Cllr Martin Newton. The Acting Borough Commander, Chris Barclay, also assured Liberal Democrats that Muswell Hill Police Station will not close unless an equal or better alternative with front counter provision is in place.
Commander Barclay was presented with a collection of residents’ views on policing priorities, after local Liberal Democrats surveyed local people on their views about SNT provision. The Liberal Democrats issued their own survey on SNTs, as the Metropolitan police launched a review of the ward based teams.
In the survey, local people highlighted issues around perceptions of safety, and the knock-on effect on local crime rates if SNT numbers were cut.
A particular preference was expressed for more police presence late at night in areas like Muswell Hill Broadway. The Acting Borough Commander assured the Liberal Democrats that residents’ views will be considered before any changes are made to Safer Neighbourhood Teams.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“The Safer Neighbourhood Teams have done wonders for our local community. With well-known faces out on the beat, and a high police visibility, residents clearly feel safer, and crime goes down.
“Residents echoed the same sentiment in many of the survey responses: they value and cherish their local police team, and don’t want to see their numbers cut.
“I’m delighted with the assurances that local people’s views will be given full consideration before any changes to SNTs take place, and I’m equally delighted with his assurances on Muswell Hill Police station!”
Haringey Liberal Democrat Crime Spokesperson Cllr Martin Newton adds:
“These are uncertain times, and the police have had a cut to their budget. We understand that tough decisions have to be made, but at the same time we feel that it’s critical that top bosses understand just how much the local community value their Safer Neighbourhood Teams to keep crime down in their local area.
“I believe we have given the police a strong message today: local policing matters, and local people don’t want to see any drastic changes to their local Safer Neighbourhood Teams.”
Liberal Democrats launch campaign to stop cuts to older people's services
To help fight for older people’s services, threatened with closure by Haringey Council, local Liberal Democrats have today (Monday 24th) launched a campaign against the cuts.
The campaign follows visits last week to luncheon clubs and care homes in Haringey by leading Liberal Democrats. Lynne Featherstone MP and Stroud Green Councillor Katherine Reece on Friday 21st January listened to concerned luncheon club users at Abyssinia Court, one of the services threatened with closure. The Weston Park club-users are fighting to save their treasured service, which puts on activities like exercise classes, bingo and outings in the local area.
Cllr David Schmitz (Harringay ward) also visited users of Willoughby Road day centre in January 2011.
The Labour Council announced in December 2010 that the Haven and Grange Day Centres, Abyssinia Court, Willoughby Road, Woodside House and Irish Centre Drop-in centres as well as Jackson’s Lane Luncheon club would be cut to save £425,000, representing just 0.2% of the £182 million in central government funding the Council will receive next year.
To help to put pressure on the Labour Council to halt the closures, Liberal Democrats have today launched a petition. Local residents can back the campaign by going to the following site:
http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/saveolderpeoplesservices
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“I understand that the Council need to make tough decisions following reductions in government funding, which takes Haringey’s share back to the 2007 grant level.
“But that does not mean it needs to make such drastic cuts to frontline services like luncheon clubs. Having spoken to many older people this weekend, I know how precious and treasured these services are.
“The Council needs to take a good hard look at its own backroom spending before cutting life lines like the Abyssinia luncheon club.”
Stroud Green Councillor Katherine Reece adds:
“For many elderly Stroud Green residents, the Abyssinia court luncheon club is a true lifesaver. It’s a place where they can meet other local residents, keep fit and have fun. For many of the club-users I spoke to on my visit, it’s the one time of the day when they get out of the house.
“Surely taking away this life-line, which gives amazing value for money, is madness, and risks having big knock-on effects to the local NHS. This is just not joined-up thinking.
“Please sign our petition and help support our campaign to halt these plans now!”
Lynne Featherstone MP meets local youth charity Catch22
To hear of their amazing work helping young people in Haringey who find themselves in difficulties to get back on their feet again, Lynne Featherstone MP recently met the dedicated team at local charity Catch22.
The charity works with 50 local young people aged 10-19, who have got into trouble, often with the police, and are showing challenging behaviour. A team of key workers and volunteers work intensively with the young people and their families, for as long as it takes, to help them get back into school or work and to integrate back into society.
Apart from hearing of the successful work from the local Catch22 team led by manager Angela Francis, the Liberal Democrat MP also got the opportunity to speak to two young people who have made fantastic progress since joining the programme.
Catch22 also helps young people in Haringey who have been arrested, and who don’t have an adult who can help and guide them through the police process.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“Catch22 really does fantastic work here in Haringey, helping those young people who find themselves in difficulties, and who haven’t got the help and support they need from local services.
“Angela and her dedicated Catch22 team is there for the young person, at any hour of the day, and for as long as it takes to help them get back on their feet.
“It’s clear, from speaking to the young people involved that the programme really works. Hats off to the local Catch22 team for very impressive work.”
Lynne Featherstone MP attends launch party of Crouch End schoolboy’s latest comic
To check out the latest edition of ‘The Zoom’, a comic created by ten-year-old Zoom Rockman from Crouch End, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday attended the launch party at the Big Green Bookshop.
The comic, now in its third edition, was founded in 2009 by the then 9-year- old Rokesly Junior student, Zoom, who writes, designs, draws and prints the publication himself.
Lynne Featherstone MP first met Zoom when he drew the winning design, for her 2010 Christmas card, of Santa flying over Wood Green Shopping City.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“I knew Zoom had something extra when I saw his entry for my Christmas Card Competition. Apart from being a really talented artist, he also has a real fun sense of humour that immediately grabbed my attention.
“But I didn’t realize quite how innovative and entrepreneurial he is – writing, designing, drawing and printing his own, very funny comic! I’m very impressed, and sure the future will hold great things, both for Zoom Rockman, and for ‘The Zoom’!”
Lynne on special tour of super-green low carbon house in the heart of Hornsey
To see the future of low carbon housing, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday visited a super–green refurbished Victorian terrace in the heart of Hornsey.
The previously fire-damaged property on Hawthorn Road, owned by Metropolitan Housing Trust, has been done up according to the Passivhaus model. With high levels of insulation, air-tightness and triple-glazing, the house will drastically cut its carbon footprint by using 80% less energy than its neighbours.
The home will need almost no extra heating, using solar gain from windows, people themselves, and their electrical goods, to keep warm. The house also has a heat-recovery system for fresh air in the winter without opening windows, and solar panels to heat 60% of the hot water.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“This warm, comfortable house has been done up beautifully, and is a great example of what can be done to cut energy in Haringey’s many Victorian properties.
“Many local residents really want to be green and cut their carbon-footprint, but don’t know where to start. I’m delighted that the Hawthorn Road house will stand as a shining example of how it can be done.
“I’m sure that Angela, the new tenant, will be very happy here. Well done to Metropolitan Housing and Anne Thorne, the architect, for doing such an amazing job!”
Older people’s services “should not be the first target” says Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats have today demanded that the Council rethinks its proposed cuts to older people’s drop-in centres, luncheon clubs and day centres. The Labour Council announced in December 2010 that the Haven and Grange Day Centres, Abyssina Court, Willoughby Road, Woodside House and Irish Centre Drop-in centres and Jackson’s Lane Luncheon club would be cut to save £425,000.
Liberal Democrats have said that services for older people should not be the first target for the Council to cut and have highlighted that the Council should prioritise back-office savings before cuts to vital services. The cuts to drop-in centres, luncheon clubs and day centres represent just 0.2% of the £182 million in central government funding the Council will receive next year.
The £425,000 cut proposed to drop-in centres, day centres and luncheon clubs is less than the annual cost to residents for the write off of the residents money that the Labour Council lost in the Icelandic bank collapse.
Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green comments:
“Local government has to make savings, but it is up to the local authority where those savings rest. Haringey Labour are going for soft targets, but I believe this drastic cut to services for older people is a very poor decision. We should protect our most vulnerable not close services they cherish.
“Labour’s financial mismanagement nationally got the country into this mess and locally Labour has made it worse.”
Cllr David Winskill, Liberal Democrat Health and Adult Social Services spokesperson adds:
“It is often said that the mark of a civilised society is how we look after our older residents. The Labour Council is not prioritising its use of the £182 million of government funding towards the services that many older people rely on. These services should not be the first target of Labour’s cuts.
“The cuts at day centres, luncheon clubs and drop-in centres represent 0.2% of the Council’s central government funding yet the Council are suggesting that, in the remaining 99.8% of the funding, there is nothing else they could cut instead of these services.”
End to dangerous drivers using Wood Green park as cut through following successful Liberal Democrat campaign
Motorists will soon no longer be able to use a Wood Green park as a cut through between two busy roads, to the delight of local residents, thanks to a successful campaign by Liberal Democrats.
Newnham Green, located by White Hart Lane, has for years been used by motorists as a cut through to get to Wood Green High Road. After repeated attempts to get the issue resolved with the help of their Labour Councillors, residents recently turned to the Liberal Democrat Woodside Team, John Thompson, Angela Kawa and Ian Simpson for help.
On Friday, following a site visit, Lynne Featherstone MP and the Woodside Team were given assurances that the Council will take action before May, to stop cars cutting through.
Lynne Featherstone MP comments:
“I’m delighted that the Council has finally agreed to stop motorist from using this quiet green as a motorway.
“Newnham Green residents have suffered years of noise and have seen their nice green destroyed by cars and motorcycles, yet it has taken this long to get the Council to agree to what is a very simple solution.”
Woodside Liberal Democrat activist John Thompson adds:
“A lot of elderly residents and children use Newnham Green, and they have for years been put at risk from these dangerous drivers, with the Labour council sitting by, twiddling their thumbs.
“But following today’s site visit, I am glad to say that common sense has finally prevailed!”
Lynne Featherstone 