Whittington A&E – Story 18

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Sheila’s story:

It would be appalling if the Whittington A&E were to close. My husband owes his life to it. In February 2003, already with a heart condition, he had breathing difficulties at home. I called an ambulance which arrived quickly and took him to the Whittington. Just as he arrived he suffered a cardiac arrest. It was touch and go while the emergency staff worked on him for sometime but thanks to them he lived and is now enjoying a busy , healthy life. If he had had to go to the Royal Free he would have died before reaching there. We must keep the Whittington A&E open.

Local MP calls on residents to help in battle for fair funding

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To encourage residents to respond to a new consultation on school funding that could help address the existing unfairness that sees Haringey’s children getting £1,318 less per pupil than in neighbouring inner London boroughs, Lynne Featherstone MP has written to thousands of local residents with information on how they can help.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP, who has long campaigned for fair funding for Haringey’s children since discovering the shortfall in funding a few years back, has now contacted residents to let them know about the consultation that is running until the 7th June.

The Government is consulting on a change in the funding formula, where one option would give Haringey’s children 6.6% more funding (around £10.8 million), and one option would keep the current funding arrangements that mean Haringey schools pay ‘inner-London’ wages but get ‘outer-London’ money.

To respond to the consultation, please go to http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/. (The consultation section that specifically relates to Haringey’s unfair funding settlement, can be found under the section titled Area Cost Adjustment, question 14 in the consultation documents. Residents can choose to respond only to the ACA section if they want to. The Hybrid option would give our schools around £400 more per pupil, compared to today’s funding arrangements, whereas the General Labour Market Approach would mean similar funding levels to today.)

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“This is our opportunity to do something about the Government’s unfair funding of Haringey schools – and if we want to see more money for our children, now is the time to act.

“The funding options put forward by the Government are far from perfect – and don’t fully correct the current unfairness.

“But the ‘hybrid’ option would at least increase our funding by £10.8 million– and that’s better than no increase! So please take a minute to respond – this is our chance to make a difference for our kids’ futures.”

Podcast for 'House of Comments'

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Late – because I should have blogged about earlier – is a post about doing a podcast for the ‘House of Comments’ where Mark Thompson (of MarkReckons’ blog) and Stuart Sharpe (Sharpe Opinion blog) had a chat / interview with myself and Sara Scarlett as two political bloggers.

We ranged across the sleazy Labour cabs for hire, admired Obama and his commitment to driving through his Health Care Bill. We are not used to politicians doing what they promised! To blogging – well bloggers do like talking about blogging!.

If you go to Mark’s blog  you will be able to click on a link to the podcast. It was really good fun – although the danger is that at times it was more like chatting with friends – and when you relax who knows what might happen!

Whittington A&E – Story 17

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Mrs L’s story:

I am very much opposed to the idea of closure not just because it is totally inappropriate/reckless, but because my family has benefited from the A and E on 2 separate occasions in the past.

On the first occasion, I was phoned by the school authorities that my daughter had a nasty fall/bump on the head and wasn’t feeling well.  I collected her from primary school & because it was a Friday afternoon, my doctor’s surgery was closed.  When her condition deteriorated in the evening, I had to rush her to Whittington’s A and E and they treated her. On a separate occasion, I also had to drive my husband there as well and they treated him.

These were 2 major emergencies that required urgent medical attention from an A & E that was accessible and in close proximity to where we lived ie Whittington.

If the government has the welfare, well being and general safety of the citizens of this country at heart, it would not ever consider such a dangerous idea. An A & E at Whittington is not a luxury but a desperate necessity.  I completely oppose the idea to close it down.

Fortismere hustings

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Fortismere School invited the three main candidates in the coming election – myself as LibDem MP, Karen Jennings as the Labour candidate and Richard Merrin for the Tories – to be asked questions by the students. About 150 young people came to the ‘question time’ and I have to say they put some terrific questions.

It totally confirmed my view that our children and young people are clever, engaged, interested and tough questioners! A far cry from the media portrayal of them as hooligans and criminals.

We ranged across banking and the economy, the Middle-East, what we would do for young people in Haringey, tuition fees, MPs’ expenses and much more. They were sharp as needles and very, very direct!

Lots of support for the LibDems here.

Well done Fortismere.

Whittington A&E – Story 16

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Robert’s story:

My 12-year-old son fell off his bike recently and broke his arm. We took him to The Whittington at about 8pm and were delighted to discover that there was a dedicated children’s A&E department – a much less forbidding environment for an injured child. The staff were exceptionally friendly and efficient and by 9.30 we’d been through triage, X-ray, consulation and plaster. Without fail, the staff were cheerful and happy to answer my son’s questions about what was happening. Six weeks later, after two visits to the Whittington’s excellent fracture clinic, he’s back on his bike.

Having this resource at the Archway is a massive reassurance to local people. Going from Muswell Hill to the Royal Free would be far more of a challenge. For a start, there’s not even a bus connection It’s also 4.5 miles instead of 2. We need an A&E at Archway.

en10ergy – launching Sunday – amazing opportunity to invest in renewable energy!

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I want to encourage local residents to buy shares in a new local company – en10ergy! This is a really wonderful project to come forward and needs and deserves support from all of us.

There has never been anything like it before in Muswell Hill and it is a first for North London. Local people are invited to invest in en10ergy by buying £1 shares that are not transferable and can be sold back only after three years.

En10ergy is a local social enterprise company registered with the Financial Services Authority on 30 October 2009.

It is technically an Industrial and Provident Society [reg. no 30824 R] but it is like a trading company in having members who are shareholders and who are not liable for its debts. 

On the other hand its activities are not carried on for the benefit of the shareholders, but for the benefit of the community. The expectation would be of a social dividend rather than financial reward. The aims are to protect and improve the environment: by promoting and investing in renewable energy installations and by reducing carbon emissions and energy waste within Muswell Hill.

The other major project concerns the Muswell Hill Low Carbon Zone (LCZ) and it is funded by the Greater London Authority. Haringey council is in the lead, supported by the Muswell Hill Sustainability Group, British Gas and other interested organisations. The Zone comprises parts of the Broadway (St James’s Church to the roundabout) and roads to the south of it, including Church Crescent and Springfield Avenue.

The role of en10ergy is facilitative: it will assist in obtaining the commitment of Zone residents and businesses to reducing carbon emissions and waste by 20.12% before the summer of 2012: solar panels are an option.  Many residents have contacted en10nergy with requests for advice on how to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

en10energy want to be able to respond to them and to help and encourage others to put out less carbon and to reduce their bills. A good response to the share offer will enable them to do so.

Shares cost £1 each and people need to buy at least £10. That gives membership and right to vote. That will help the company invest in renewable energy in Muswell Hill, help turn the area into North London’s first low carbon zone and help spread information about how to make homes energy efficient. For more information, and to buy shares, please click here for more information.

Local MP helps open new library at local school

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Opening of new library at Hornsey School for GirlsTo help open the new library at Hornsey School for Girls, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday celebrated the new learning space with students, teachers and residents at the Inderwick Road School.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s great to see this fantastic new library. It’s a truly inspirational learning space – so airy, spacious and with a great range of computer and books.

“But one of the best things has really been to hear from the students about what this new library will mean to them, in terms of getting peace of mind and access to information to help them with projects, exams and to ultimately do well in life – and that really is fantastic!”

Whittington A&E – Story 15

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Alison’s story:

Two personal experiences in the last year of Whittington A&E:

1       Last January I had a severe asthma attack at night – just made it to the A&E where they whisked me through oon arival and put me on oxygen, then treated me.  I might well not have got as far as the Royal Free as I couldn’t breathe.  Cannot fault the treatment I received (PS must confess I had not thought of Camidoc, just wanted treatment!).

2       Our son, in great pain and bleeding from the penis went to A&E and although he had to wait, was seen by a urologist and appointments made for CT scan and further consultation with the urologist.  This at the height of pressure from last cold spell’s falls etc. A&E was crammed – if closed, would another A&E wherever be able to cope?  I think not.

Please use my name if it helps and thank you so much from both of us.

Hornsey Town Hall – movement at last!

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At last Hornsey Town Hall – and the redevelopment thereof – is on the move after five years of expectation.  The Hornsey Town Hall Creative Trust (HTHCT) who have been taking forward the vision of this lovely art deco council building forward to community arts centre and so much more have announced that the planning application has now been submitted!

In fact it is Haringey Council who has submitted a planning application to restore and convert the magnificent Grade 2* listed building into a centre for arts and enterprise. The HTHCT has sent out information to say that the planning application is available to view at www.haringey.gov.uk/planning and at Haringey Council’s planning office at 639 High Road, Tottenham, N17 8BD.

Comments can be submitted online via www.haringey.gov.uk/planningor in writing to the same address, marked “Hornsey Town Hall application”.

A Development Management Forum will be held on Thursday 25th March at Hornsey Town Hall (7.00pm-9.00pm) and, after that, there will be an exhibition in Hornsey Library (in HaringeyPark, N8) – exact dates still to be confirmed but they will be announced as soon as HTHCT have more information on their website,www.hornsey-town-hall.org.uk.