Lynne Featherstone MP on mission to help save hearts in Hornsey and Wood Green

Posted on 13th Jun 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

To learn how to save hearts if someone goes into cardiac arrest or has a heart attack, Lynne Featherstone MP on Friday did a ‘heartstart’ training course with the local ambulance service.

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP received comprehensive training in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation – the process of ‘restarting’ the heart – the only way to save a life if a person has gone into cardiac arrest.

The current survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in London is 21.5%, but in some cities, such as Seattle in the US, survival rates are as high as 46%.

The ‘heartstart’ training course, run by Sarah Dale, the Community Resuscitation Officer for the London Ambulance Service, aims to increase London survival rates by teaching CPR skills, and is available for members of the public.

MP Lynne now wants to encourage local residents to take the two hour course, and learn how to save lives.

Residents who want to sign up, shouldcall 020 7783 2534 or email resustraining@londonambulance.nhs.uk.

The Liberal Democrat MP is also writing to local schools to encourage them to run the course for their pupils.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It was really easy to learn how to save a life, by doing this two hour ‘heartstart’ course, and it can make all the difference to someone’s chances of survival if they collapse and stop breathing.

“The difference in survival rates between London and Seattle shows that we are still losing hearts in London that are too good to die, and the way to fight this is to help spread awareness about how to do CPR and use a defibrillator.

“I would encourage all residents to sign up for the ‘heartstart’ course, because if a loved one should suffer cardiac arrest or a heart-attack, your skills can be life-saving.”

Sarah Dale, Community Resuscitation Officer for the London Ambulance Service, adds:

“When a person suffers acardiac arrest, blood is no longer being pumped effectively around their body and oxygen is not reaching their brain. It’s vital that someone calls 999 for an ambulance and starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation straightaway.

“We are on hand to deliver ‘heartstart’ courses in London. Please do get in touch and help spread awareness.”

All Walks Centre for Diversity

Posted on 12th Jun 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Huge congratulations to All Walks – the fantastic team of Caryn Franklin, Debra Bourne and Erin O’Connor who are driving forward their campaign to bring diversity to fashion.

The latest triumpth in the All Walks mission is the Centre for Diversity. The new centre, headed by Mal Burkinshaw (Head of Fashion at Edinburgh College of Art) will teach students to embrace diversity. Whilst part of this is about learning to cut to sizes other than double zero and to shapes other than model-shaped – Caryn Franklin said that it would teach students a whole lot more than just learning to cut patterns.

The launch was held at Earl’s Court 2 – during Graduate Fashion Week – and many, many educators from right across the country came to hear what Caryn, Debra and Mal were doing with this new centre – and although the Centre for Diversity is based in Edinburgh – this is a nationwide mission.

I was invited and had the privilege of announcing the new Centre because the Government itself has its own campaign for Body Confidence – which forms part of our health and well-being strategy. All Walks is one of the groups on the Government Advisory panel of experts who advise us on our Body Confidence campaign – and they head the sector working with the fashion industry.

Mal Burkanshaw spoke with such conviction about the freedom that will come as students learn to create ’emotionally considerate work’ – bringing emotion into a world which has been so unforgiving to any variety of body types in our world and rejecting of those that do not fit an impossible singular image for fashion – it was just so fantastic.

I am greatly enthused by this major step forward in ending a damaging conformity – by educating those who will be the fashion industry in future decades. It is a very heartwarming to see this opening up of the challenge, the market and design to the wonders of the human form – in all its glory.

Follow All Walks mission to end conformity here!

Haringey Liberal Democrats urge cabinet member to change policy immediately on “disastrous” children’s centre plans

Posted on 10th Jun 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrats have called on cabinet member, Cllr Lorna Reith, to abandon Haringey Labour’s plan to drastically scale back provision of vital Children’s Centres. At a special ‘watchdog’ committee this week she faced overwhelming resistance to her proposals.

On Wednesday (8th June 2011) the Overview and Scrutiny Committee rejected Labour’s proposals and sent the issue back to the cabinet member for reconsideration by next Thursday.

Heads of local schools and children’s centres united to oppose plans which would withdraw funding from children’s centres at Rokelsey, North Bank, Highgate and Tower Gardens, after the Liberal Democrats successfully referred the issue to the committee.

Cllr Rachel Allison highlighted the effects of the removal of vital preventative services, the need to have universal access to children’s centres across the borough and need to listen to the concerns raised, including those from Labour backbenchers and Labour MP David Lammy who are against the plans.

Cllr Katherine Reece, Liberal Democrat Children’s spokesperson, comments:

“It’s time that Cllr Reith stopped rowing against the tidal wave of criticism that overwhelmingly shows that her plans will damage our local children’s welfare, upbringing and safety. The tide has turned and Cllr Reith should change her policy immediately to ensure we have a better system in place by September.”

Cllr Rachel Allison, who presented the Liberal Democrat call-in, added:

“It is clear that the schools and children’s centre managers – those who know how to run their services better than anyone – should have control over how the reduced money for their services is spent. Withdrawing services at North Bank, Highgate and Rokesley when they could be kept going with only small amounts of investment will be disastrous. I hope that we now see a change in direction.”

Cllr David Winskill, Liberal Democrat Deputy Chair of Overview and Scrutiny adds:

“The presentations and contributions form school heads, governors, parents and others were well reasoned and involved no extra funding. It is clear that Cllr Reith, as long ago as 2008, had the opportunity to engage with these groups to find a sustainable funding regime. I hope she will listen to what Scrutiny said and go and fully engage with the Children’s Centre Alliance on a more appropriate and locally delivered model of service.”

Local MP calls for investigation into Baby P report

Posted on 10th Jun 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone, has called for an investigation into an alleged attempt to hide management failings following the death of Baby P.

Following the death of Peter Connelly (Baby P), Dr Jane Collins the Chief Executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) commissioned the Sibert Report to investigate both the doctor and the systems involved in child protection, run by GOSH in Haringey.

An addendum of the report was authored by Dr Jane Collins and submitted to the Serious Case Review. The full report has now been released to the BBC in response to an FOI request. It shows Dr Collins’ addendum did not include the report’s vital criticisms of the management and child protection practices.

In a letter to Jo Williams, Chair of the Care Quality Commission, Baroness Blackstone Chair of GOSH Board, Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove and Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, Lynne Featherstone has called for an investigation into Dr Jane Collins’ actions.

Speaking as Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone said:

“There is now clear evidence that information was withheld from the serious case review into the death of Baby Peter. Key criticisms were edited out and it appears there was an attempt to cover-up the fact the situation was ‘clinically risky’.

“The key person in charge in Haringey was dismissed from post. The key managers also lost their jobs. But the Chief Executive and the managers at GOSH who presided over this ‘clinically risky situation’ are still in post. Their roles and culpability have never faced proper scrutiny.

“This can be nothing other than a deliberate attempt to hide the management failings, and subvert the serious case review process.

“It is not possible to learn the right lessons unless all relevant and important information has been disclosed, whatever the potential impact on the hospitals and health trusts involved.”

Great Ormond Street says sorry!

Posted on 10th Jun 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

I got a text from Kim Holt on Tuesday.

Kim Holt is the NHS whistleblower (one of the four paediatric consultants in the GOSH child health team at St Ann’s in Haringey) who spoke up to senior managers at Great Ormond Street about the danger to children because management were not listening to concerns. And it was not just her concerns – in fact – all four senior paediatricians wrote a letter to the management and co-signed it – they were so worried about the situation at St Ann’s.

It is fighting her case that brought me into this arena and seeing the huge injustice done to her. Having spoken out – Kim’s reward was to be put on special leave. Kept on full pay by GOSH at taxpayers’ expense for three years now but not allowed to work – Kim has been trying to get back to the work that she loves and work that everyone (including an Independent investigation of her case by NHS London) found her to be an exemplar paediatrician.

The investigation found that she should be re-instated by GOSH after mediation. She never has been.

Back to the text. The text from Kim to me this Tuesday said:

‘Lynne I have today been given an open apology from GOSH. Can you believe it? Kim’

What interesting timing after three years of being treated as a pariah. Did GOSH sense that when the Sibert Report was finally released under FOI to the BBC that they might be in the spotlight?

UPDATE: the actual wording of the apology has now come through: “both Trusts accept and are sorry that you have been through a difficult time. You are a respected and valued member of staff and we look forward to you resuming your role in community paediatrics very soon’

NB Both Trusts are Great Ormond Street and Haringey PCT

Call for investigation into the withholding of vital information to the first Serious Case Review into the death of Peter Connelly

Posted on 9th Jun 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

The news broke tonight on the back of the Sibert Report finally being released under Freedom of Information to BBC London in the 6.30 BBC London news.

I have raised it on the floor of the chamber and on this blog many times (just use the search button) – that the health care failings in Children’s Safeguarding by Great Ormond Street (GOSH) were never looked into properly and worse.

Finally – with the release of the Sibert Report – anyone can see if they compare the original report with the addendum supplied to the Serious Case Revew what has been removed. The BBC London website has an excellent report on the scandal here.

Whilst the establishment tries to close around Great Ormond Street to protect the Chief Executive – the facts are out there now to be seen by all. GOSH have refuted all the charges and the Board say they have complete confidence in Dr Collins. Shame on them.

In their statement they say they met me about my concerns. No – they met me about concerns about one of my constituents (one of the four paediatric consultants who was put on special leave because she raised concerns about the danger to children in St Ann’s Hospital). That meeting was not about the withholding of information from the Serious Case Review. And moreover – even that meeting was only granted after Baroness Blackstone (Chair of Great Ormond Street Board) had refused to meet me on my own without Dr Collins present. I have the emails!

Haringey was rightly in the spotlight as the lead agency in the wake of the Baby P tragedy – but perhaps that spotlight detracted from the terribly dangerous conditions in which vulnerable children were being left by the management failures by GOSH.

The fact that these failings – this vital information – never reached the Serious Case Review because it was removed from the addendum submitted to the Serious Case Review is a scandal. Dr Collins is the author of the addendum.

I have called for an investigation into the withholding of this vital information and wait to see whether real justice will be done.

Liberal Democrat Voice have written a post on this here.

Pinkham Way

Posted on 5th Jun 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Was out on Saturday morning petitioning against the proposals for a new,

giant, waste processing plant at Pinkham Way. So many people worried and

anxious: traffic, pollution, noise, disturbance to wildlife habitat for starters.

In April, I asked David Beadle, the managing director of the NLWA to speak at a public meeting to raise awareness about proposals to build the waste plant and to listen to local concerns before the NLWA submitted the planning application to Haringey Council.

He refused.

That says it all really. Being at a public meeting and being prepared to listen to local residents, before submitting the plans, would have gone some way towards giving residents assurances that their concerns will be heard.

The NLWA is a public body funded by local tax payers – they should feel duty bound to attend a meeting and engage with residents over these major plans. Mr Beadle said he found public meetings unproductive and preferred presentations to small groups!

There is an online petition about the plans which you can sign, or if you’d like to find out more about the issue see my recent blog pieces on Pinkham Way here. There is also good information on the Pinkham Way Alliance website here.

The issue will be discussed at the 16 June meeting of the Muswell Hill, Alexandra, Highgate and Fortis Green Area Forum: 6:30pm at the British Legion on Muswell Hill Road, N10 3NG.

Andrew Reeves

Posted on 3rd Jun 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Extremely shocked and upset by news this morning of the untimely death of Andrew Reeves from a heart attack. Was rung first thing this morning and told the tragic news. Andrew was so young – and just recently married his long term partner.

Andrew came to be my Head of Office when I was elected to Parliament in 2005. He was a warm, lovely guy – a very kind person and great character. Liberal Democrats will all be very sad to hear of his death.

Another leap forward for Lynne’s fight for fair funding

Posted on 31st May 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

Local residents have this week joined MP Lynne Featherstone and local Liberal Democrats in a defining moment in the four year battle for fair funding for Haringey’s schools, by jointly sending in a strong response to the government’s school funding consultation.

At least fifty local people united behind Lynne to help send a clear message to the government that they should take the opportunity to end the injustice of Haringey’s schoolchildren receiving up to £1540 less than pupils in neighbouring boroughs.

The consultation, that ended this week, was the first of a two part consultation into school funding. This first leg sought views on creating a fairer school formula which campaigners say needs to consider the fact that Haringey pays inner-London costs but the current system only gives the borough’s schools outer-London funding – now £1540 less per pupil.

The second part of the consultation is expected to take place later on this year and look into the finer details of the funding system.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“It’s amazing to see how residents here in Hornsey and Wood Green can be united to help fight for such an important cause as fair funding for our children’s schools. Together we have made a really strong case for correcting the historical injustice that sees out children being short-changed by up to £1540 each, and finally get funding equality with pupils in neighbouring boroughs.

“For thirteen years, Labour underfunded Haringey’s schools, and ignored plea after plea for justice. It’s great to see Lib Dems in government taking decisive action for fairer school funding.”

Cllr Katherine Reece, Liberal Democrat Children’s Spokesperson, adds:

“This could be another giant leap forward in our four-year campaign for fair funding. I’m glad that so many residents have taken the time and effort to get involved – without them this would not have happened.

“This was the first of a two leg consultation, and we all look forward to mobilising the parents of Haringey to make an equally strong case in the next leg, likely to be launched in the summer.”

Sharon Shoesmith

Posted on 28th May 2011 by Lynne Featherstone

The court’s decision was that Sharon Shoesmith was unlawfully dismissed because of procedural issues. My understanding is that the court is not saying that she should or should not have lost her job, but simply that proper procedures to dismiss her were not followed.

The real crux for me is that after each terrible tragedy we are always told ‘lessons will be learned’.

Well – one of the lessons we learned from Victoria Climbie’s death (which also happened in Haringey a few years earlier) was that no one took ultimate responsibility for the failings in Haringey Council.

The then Leader, (George Meehan), the councillor who chaired the Social Services Committee (Gina Adamou) and the Director of Social Services (Mary Richardson) – suffered no consequences of the dire failures in departments that they were responsible for. No one resigned. No one was held accountable. Only the social worker at the end of the food chain got it in the neck.

That is why, following the public inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie in Haringey, Lord Laming put in a recommendation that there should be responsibility under the law for this duty of care. And so – in the Children’s Act 2004, for the first time, it was set in law that two positions would be held responsible for the failings in their service. Those positions were the Director of Children’s Services and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.

Following Baby Peter’s death – Cllr Liz Santry, the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, resigned. Sharon Shoesmith, the Director of Children’s Services, did not.

The Government’s decision to appeal this latest decision is welcome. The outcome of that judgement will tell us whether lessons have really been learned.