Tag Archives: crouch-end

Survey shows residents concerned about school place shortage

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The results of a survey by local MP Lynne Featherstone released this week reveals the level of concern amongst local residents about school places in Haringey.

Survey returns from over four-hundred homes in Muswell Hill, Crouch End and Fortis Green wards show that nearly half of those who responded felt that more school places are needed in their area. Places at primary schools were considered as the top priority.

Liberal Democrats have called on Haringey Council to take concerted efforts to do all they can to increase the supply of school places, including backing the campaign against Islington Council’s plans to turn the former Ashmount school site into a housing development.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Hornsey and Wood Green, comments:

“Haringey Council needs to listen to local residents and look to see where there is the highest pressure for places.

“The Government has given Haringey an additional £1.7million this year to relieve the pressure on school places on top of their share of £800million nationally.”

Councillor Sophie Erskine (Fortis Green) adds:

“In the first round of applications this year 130 children in Haringey did not receive a place at any primary school. The Council must do all it can to ensure our families have access to good local schools.

“It is about time that the Council backed the campaign to keep the Ashmount school site for educational use.”

Lynne Featherstone MP addresses AGM of Crouch End Open Spaces (CREOS)

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CREOSLynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, will speak to members of the Crouch End Open Spaces campaign group tonight (24th May).

The MP for Hornsey & Wood Green will tell members of the group that London’s green spaces are vitally important and that Liberal Democrats in the coalition government have won new powers for local people to shape their local community.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“CREOS has done a fantastic job over more than twenty five years, helping to protect and improve open spaces in Crouch End and Muswell Hill. They have shown what can be achieved when people come together to work for their own local community.

“Our green spaces are hugely valued and vitally important parts of our communities. In London, over 50 hectares of protected open space – equivalent to more than twice the size of St James’s Park – has been lost in planning approvals since 2008 when Boris Johnson became mayor.

“The new Localism Act will give people the power to nominate community assets that can then be given extra protection from the threat of development. Crouch End playing field is one of the places that people have told the local Liberal Democrat team should be included as a community asset. Councillors will be pressing Haringey Borough Council to include it in the list for extra protection.”

MP meets outstanding early career researcher at SET For Britain event

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Crouch End resident Dr Arjun Ghosh was one of a group of researchers who had their work displayed in Parliament last week. Hornsey and Wood Green MP Lynne Featherstone met with Dr Ghosh to view the poster and to discuss his work.

Dr Ghosh, is a Cardiologist working at St Mary’s Hospital and a researcher at the International Centre for Circulatory Health at Imperial College and at Medical Research Council for Lifelong Health and Ageing. His research focuses on life course effects on cardiac structure and function as measured through echocardiography.

His work was displayed on a poster on the Terrace of the House of Commons as part of the SET for Britain campaign. The overall aim of SET for Britain is to support Britain’s early-stage and early-career research scientists, engineers and technologists. The competition is divided into three categories: engineering, biological and biomedical science and physical sciences. Dr Ghosh’s work was selected for presentation in the biological and biomedical science category from out of over 140 submissions.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“Britain has a fantastic record for producing world-leading research. I was delighted to have the chance to talk to Dr Ghosh about his work. He, and many others like him, are carrying out vital work that will have a real impact on people’s lives.”

Local MP backs stunning Crouch End calendar in aid of victims of summer’s riots

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CE Calendar Nov 11To back the stunning N8 calendar and meet the Crouch End traders behind it, Lynne Featherstone MP went to the Haberdashery on Middle Lane on Friday. The project is currently raising funds in support of initiatives to help rebuild communities following the summer’s riots

The Hornsey and Wood Green MP met the Haberdashery’s Massimo Bergamin, Budgen’s Andrew Thornton, FOOD from the SKY’s Azul-Valerie Thome, and Haringey Community Circles administrator Jazz Rasool, who have jointly backed the project.

All proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go to Haringey Community Circles, a charitable initiative set up by the traders and YMCA’s Jim Shepley following the events in Tottenham and Wood Green in August.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The stunning N8 calendar really captures the essence of Crouch End. Not only does it portray local traders, but more so, it really captures the generosity of this community, in raising funds to help fellow Haringey residents who have suffered following the summer’s riots.

“Massimo, Andrew, Azul, Jim and Jazz should be proud of what they have achieved in creating a beautiful calendar that I am sure will be a great stocking filler this Christmas, and in the process raise funds for Haringey Community Circles.

“I’ve got mine, and would encourage all Crouch Enders to get one for their homes, and in the process back a great cause.”

Lynne Featherstone MP attends launch party of Crouch End schoolboy’s latest comic

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Lynne Featherstone MP, Zoom Rockman and Rokesley Junior School headteacher Bola Sonoye-Thomas at the launch party in the Big Green Bookshop, Wood Green.

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 Featherstone MP holds special class on Government at local school

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Lynne with students from Coleridge PrimaryTo give students from Coleridge Primary, studying the UK political system, a chance to hear first-hand experience of life in Government, Lynne Featherstone, Home Office Minister and MP for Hornsey and Wood Green on Friday held a special class with years five and six.

The Crouch End students got to hear about the challenges of being in coalition, of how a bill goes through Parliament, asked questions about local campaigning, about becoming an MP, and meeting David Cameron and the Queen.

Lynne Featherstone MP comments:

“The Coleridge kids are an impressive lot! Not only have they already learnt loads about the UK political system and the coalition – they also came really well prepared with clever questions and a genuine hunger for learning about the world we live in.

“It’s fantastic to see such enthusiasm and outstanding teaching. I’m sure these kids are in for great things, and who knows, maybe some will even be future MPs!”

Aspiring journalists from Hornsey School for Girls interview MP for special BBC report

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Lynne Featherstone interviewed by, from the left, Carenza Grant and Lina Chakri In order to help aspiring young journalists from a local school do a special piece on youth issues in Haringey for the BBC, Lynne Featherstone MP was interviewed by students at Hornsey School for Girls.

The Crouch End school is participating in the BBC school report for the third year running. The project allows students, with the help of mentors from the national broadcaster, to learn about making TV and to develop journalistic skills.

The Liberal Democrat MP was quizzed on issues such as unfair school funding and youth crime in the student-led piece, which will be shown on the BBC website, and hopefully on TV and radio, on the 11th March.

Lynne Featherstone MP, comments:

“I was really impressed by how expertly the interview was carried out, how well researched the questions were, and how much the students had learnt about technical stuff like filming and sound.

“This is a great way to teach the girls about making TV and to help them develop an interest in current affairs.

“And who knows, they may even end up working for the BBC one day! Hopefully their report will go all the way to the top – I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for it on the 11th March.”

Whittington A&E

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Here’s my latest column for the Muswell Hill Flyer and the Highgate Handbook:

I sent out an email to my special email list to ask for people’s personal stories of when the Whittington Accident & Emergency had been important in their lives – and got a phenomenal response. (If you want to be on this list just email lynne@lynnefeatherstone.org and say so).

I will be presenting these to all the members of all the boards of all the layers of NHS decision makers who are working out our future health services (and there are many of them) and to the government in due course – to try and remind them that this about people’s lives – and that we are not just pawns on some management chessboard.

The clue is in the title of the service – ‘emergency’ – and some of the stories tell how the ambulance man or woman has said we must go to the nearest hospital because x won’t make it if we don’t – every second counts.

Now every resident of Muswell Hill and Highgate who has contacted me about this is quite clear about the importance of having a full 24/7 A&E locally. Distance matters both for saving lives but also for ease of access. And quite frankly the Whittington is far better placed for public transport than the Royal Free for us.

The decision makers are arguing that distance isn’t always important and that extra GP hours, NHS Direct and pharmacies can be a viable alternative. But no amount of extra GP hours or even an urgent care centre (which is one of their alternative suggestions) can replace a full A&E service. This is insanity being wrapped up and sold to us under the guise of ‘better clinical outcomes’. Yes – there are people who use A&E who don’t need to – but taking away A&E isn’t the answer – adding a GP walk-in where those people could be diverted to – could be.

If our A&E goes – as sure as night follows day – we will also lose obstetrics and the Intensive Care Unit. There will be no emergency take from GPs and it will compromise the teaching of medical students at the Whittington.

As for the funding, I put it directly to the Minister, Mike O’Brien, in an Adjournment Debate on the Whittington, that there is a fear that this is about cuts and budgets. The Minister assured me, on the record, that there would be no ‘slash and burn’ solutions and that all of this was about better clinical outcomes.

Well – for all those stories where people would have died if there had not been an A&E at the Whittington – seems to me being alive is a pretty good clinical outcome.

Whittington A&E: 4 out of 7 scenarios end 24/7 service

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Full credit to Rachel Tyndall (Chair of the North London Central Review Panel) for sending me the NCL Strategy Plan for our local health services. I had heard that these had been submitted to NHS London and asked for a copy – and it was given to me virtually immediately. I have circulated the document for information.

The content is of concern. First let me say – this is a long, technical document – in which the arguments are laid out for the configuration of health services across five boroughs and between five hospitals: Barnet, Royal Free, North Mids, UCLH and the Whittington. Ms Tyndall has said that a more accessible version for public consumption will be provided in due course.

In the appendix, are laid out, seven ‘scenarios’. This is where the fight to Save the Whittington A&E will come – if these are the ‘options’ that come for public consultation next autumn.

The seven ‘scenarios’  demonstrate different configurations between the five hospitals as to what services will be provided from each hospital. It is about a total provision – obviously – not just A&E. Suffice to say that four out of the seven ‘scenarios’ show an end to 24/7 A&E at the Whittington. Three show retention of 24/7 A&E.

Interestingly two of the ‘scenarios’ show a reduction to 16 hours A&E – however – from the minutes of the Board Meeting of the Council of Governors of the Whittington it is quite clear that the the 16 hour A&E is not a real option. The actual wording from the minutes of the meeting of the Council of Governors of the Whittington reads (and I quote directly):

Very importantly NCL and the Whittington have ruled out an option where the Whittington has an A&E with reduced opening time eg 16hours per day. This leaves options where either the full 24 hour A&E is retained or there is no A&E at all. The Whittington might then have an urgent care centre.

So – I don’t know why NCL have included two options showing a 16 hour A&E as clearly that has already been ruled out. This makes me wonder if options have been put in that are not really and truly under consideration but are there to make two of the options look better than they are – as they seem to offer some A&E rather than none. I will seek clarification on this seemingly conflicting evidence.

The greater problem for all of us fighting to save the Whittington A&E – is that as long as there are any ‘scenarios’ that don’t retain 24 hour A&E – we are in jeopardy. So – we need the public consultation next autumn to simply ask those who use the Whittington whether we want to retain the 24 A&E service or whether we would prefer the alternative range of provision at the polyclinic, GP extra hours, urgent care centre etc favoured by NCL and the Trusts.

Anything else opens the way to closure of A&E at the Whittington.

At this point – it is a battle to make sure whatever options finally come forward for consultation- that if local people want to retain a 24 hour A&E at the Whittington – it is retained!

The Whittington says yes!

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No – this isn’t about the A&E – I wish they said yes to that too. No – this is my visit to the Whittington with members of the Haringey Phoenix Group who work with blind and visually impaired people in Haringey.

Have you ever thought about this – you get the results to your tests for cancer – and because it is in print – you can’t read it and have to ask a neighbour to help. Can you imagine how dreadful it must be to have to bring someone else into what is a private matter. Of course – you may be lucky and have a partner or friend who you are happy to see your most intimate correspondence – but there are times when this just isn’t appropriate. Or the letter might be about an appointment – and you don’t get to see it or know about it until too late. And quite frankly – it should be a basic right in a civilised society to receive medical information in a form that is accessible to those who are blind or visually impaired.

Well – actually it is a right – in legislation! The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Equality Duty of 2006 say this should be the case – but the actuality just isn’t happening. Partly this is because patients don’t ask – and partly because hospitals and GPs don’t offer or aren’t set up to deliver.

Hence my visit with the wonderful Haringey Phoenix Group. We met with Kate Slemeck and two other Whittington officials to discuss how we could arrive at a situation where asking wasn’t necessary because the IT system flagged up both that the patient was visually impaired but also what type of communication results, appointments – any communication – should be in. This could be anything from braille, to large print format (different point sizes for different degrees of impairment), audio tapes, etc.  Then automatically – all communication would be in that format. This is part of a campaign by the RNIB to convert the right in law – to the reality on the ground.

Three cheers for the Whittington – who embraced this and said they could see no reason why not – and were prepared to run a pilot. This would be a real breakthrough and the Whittington would be the first hospital to trial and hopefully become a beacon for provision of communication in appropriate format.

Of course – there’s a bit of a way to go – but they were welcoming, said that their IT system could flag this information up as we suggested. The next stage is to get GPs to ensure that this information – that the patient is visually impaired and identify the format required – so that it can be put onto the hospital system. And of course – it needs to be on the GP system – and all blind and visually impaired people need to make sure that the GP does this and so on.

So next step is to get Haringey PCT to write to all the GPs locally asking them to make sure that both on their own system and when they refere patients to the Whittington – it is made clear that this information has to be entered for flagging and so on.

I am assuming that the PCT will be delighted and willing to do so. I cannot imagine any reason why not – and this is the sort of small change that will make a huge difference.

Three cheers for the Whittington!