Aidan Burley MP <news@aidanburleymp.org> To: news@aidanburleymp.org Reply-To: news@aidanburleymp.

org News Bulletin from Aidan Burley MP #72

10 October 2013 14:07

13 Attachments, 263 KB

In this edition:
Aidan Burley MPs Diary Website of the week: Grow Your Tenner Campaign MP responds to TSA consultation Walsall Manor Hospital supports national campaign to teach all children how to save a life Aidan launches annual Christmas card competition Business awards winners decided ahead of presentation evening Aidan in the papers: MP Aidan Burley backs the Santa dash Burley welcomes current account switch service Burley backs Diabetes UK campaign Aidan in the papers: Fears over maternity unit closure How to contact Aidan Burley MP

Issue 72 Thursday 10th October 2013

Since the last edition, Aidan has:

Formally submitted his response to the TSA's Public Consultation on the draft recommendations for the future of services for local people using Stafford and Cannock Chase Hospitals. Held a further meeting with the Environment Agency (EA) and affected residents regarding ongoing issues at the Anaerobic Digesters at the Poplars site. Aidan reaffirmed his commitment to keep up the pressure on Biffa and the EA to address the foul odour problems at the site, which the EA have said has yet to be fully resolved. Visited St Josephs Catholic Primary School in Rugeley to support the British Heart Foundation Heartstart initiative, being delivered in partnership with the Wolverhampton Healthcare NHS Trust. Launched the fourth annual Newlife Santa Dash. Held a constituency surgery in the MP Help Zone in Cannock, where he met with local residents including a group of carers with concerns about proposals for the Day Service in Cannock. Aidan has since followed up with the County Council regarding their ongoing consultation about the future provision of support to disabled adults and their families, and has arranged further discussions with County Councillors, as well as planned a visit to the Day Service later this month to see the important work they do. Met with representatives from HSBC to plan a number of exciting initiatives to benefit the people of Cannock Chase, particularly young people, over the coming year. HSBC and Aidan will be working together on future Jobs Fayres, as well as money advice for young people and support for young entrepreneurs. Met with the Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure to discuss the alterations to Horse Fair in Rugeley and to ensure that concerns raised with him will be taken into account as the work is implemented. Aidan has requested that the safety of the parking spaces included in the scheme be audited once the new layout is up and running, and has received assurances that this will be done. Attended a Network Rail drop in session in Cannock about the Chase Line Electrification project. Attended the judges evening for the 2013 Cannock Chase Business Awards. Sat on a delegated legislation committee looking at the draft Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Amendment: Qualifying Offences) Order 2013.

Website of the week:

Grow Your Tenner Campaign

From 10am on 15th October, local charities and community groups can receive double donations thanks to the Grow Your Tenner campaign, a 500,000 Match Fund on Localgiving.com. The Office for Civil Society has made the money available to support small charities and groups working in local communities if thats you or youd like to support a local charity, go to www.localgiving.com/gyt to find out how you can share in the pot!

MP responds to TSA consultation

AIDAN FULLY SUPPORTS PROPOSALS FOR CANNOCK HOSPITAL BUT STRONGLY OPPOSES MATERNITY CHANGES AT STAFFORD Aidan has formally submitted his response to the TSA's Public Consultation on the draft recommendations for the future of services for local people using Stafford and Cannock Chase Hospitals. In his response Aidan expressed his strong support for the proposed recommendations regarding the future of Cannock Hospital which would not only see existing services maintained, but for the first time in a generation see new services coming into the Hospital. However, he has "strongly opposed" the recommendations which would end all births at Stafford Hospital. Aidan feels that despite the birth 'numbers' issue being well explained by Hugo Mascie-Taylor at the recent TSA Public Consultation meetings, he remains unclear as to why all maternity care should be moved - especially when it is acknowledged that the maternity unit is operating safely at present, and healthy babies are being delivered. In his response he also raised concerns that losing child birth facilities at Stafford would mean women from Cannock Chase will have to use Wolverhampton and Walsall much more, and therefore additional capacity will be needed at these sites. Aidan estimates that 400-500 more births a year would need to be carried out at Walsall Manor alone, which would need increased infrastructure on their site at a cost estimated at up to 12million. He feels that this additional money should instead be invested into the facilities at Stafford, rather than into other NHS Trusts which could help preserve the facility. Commenting Aidan said: "The granting of Foundation Trust status in 2009 to MSFT was a political decision forced upon them by the then Labour government rather than being based on the health needs of Staffordshire or the clinical and financial viability of the Trust. It directly led to the problems we see today and the very TSA process we now have to be engaged with. The fact that this will be the first ever Foundation Trust to be dissolved, after just five years, shows what a catastrophic failure that decision was and this error must never be allowed to be repeated. "We now have a once in a generation opportunity to bring Cannock Hospital to life again, by removing the ghost of MSFT, and being run by a Trust which actually wants to use and improve the facility. I strongly urge the TSA to support the application for funds of up to 21million so that the hospital can be brought up to the best of modern standards that is no less than my constituents deserve after what they have been put through over the past ten years." Speaking about the proposals for Stafford Hospital he said: "Whilst there may be a "direction of travel" towards having larger, 24-7 consultant led obstetrics units, I do not believe the case has been made that that in itself is a reason for moving all maternity care from Stafford, especially when it is acknowledged that the maternity unit is operating safely at present."

Walsall Manor Hospital supports national campaign to teach all children how to save a life

Aidan with staff and pupils from St. Josephs Catholic Primary School who took part in the Heartstart course. Walsall Manor Hospital has played a key role in setting up the British Heart Foundations (BHF) Heartstart programme in schools across the country. The initiative teaches pupils simple skills that can help them save lives or react in a life- threatening emergency. As part of the initiative Aidan met pupils from St. Josephs Catholic Primary School who were completing the Heartstart course. The programme includes learning skills such as assessing an unconscious patient, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), dealing with choking or serious bleeding and helping someone that might be having a heart attack. Young people of ten years and over can attend a Heartstart course. However, some emergency life saving skills like making a 999 call or placing someone in the recovery position can be learnt much earlier. The Resuscitation Council (UK) and the BHF are also campaigning for all children to learn Emergency Life Support (ELS) skills at school as part of the national curriculum. Knowing how to react in an emergency situation by carrying out procedures such as CPR can buy time needed for professional help to arrive and save the life of a loved one. The Heartstart ELS course can be undertaken without any special medical knowledge and teachers can include it in a range of different subjects including Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE), Science, Physical Education and Citizenship. Walsall Manor Hospitals Resuscitation Officer, Phil Jevon, also works as a Heartstart Training Supervisor and uses equipment and material donated by the BHF to assist schools in becoming affiliated to the Heartstart Schools Programme. Phil explained: To become affiliated to the Heartstart Schools Programme, the school needs to have a suitably qualified training supervisor. My role as training supervisor is to provide train the trainer sessions for the teachers, so that they can then teach the emergency life support skills to their pupils. I also provide advice and support should they have any queries or concerns and update their training as and when required. Aidan added Im proud to support the Heartstart initiative in my constituency; it is excellent to see this important and potentially lifesaving skill set being delivered in schools. I would encourage all local schools to follow the example of St Josephs, and take up the opportunity to become affiliated with this British Heart Foundation scheme. Information about the campaign can be found on the Resuscitation Council UKs website: www.resus.org.uk/pages/ELSstmt.htm.

Aidan launches annual Christmas card competition

Aidan with last year's Christmas card competition winner Hannah Seaman from Bridgtown Primary School in Cannock. Aidan has today launched his annual school Christmas card competition and he has invited every primary school in Cannock Chase to pick up their pens, pencils and crayons and help design his 2013 Christmas card. Since his election back in 2010, Aidan has broken with the tradition of using the standard parliamentary Christmas card and instead decided to showcase the talent of local school children from across the constituency. This year's competition is once again kindly sponsored by local employment firm Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG). Aidan has already written to every primary school in the constituency inviting pupils to take part in the competition, which this year has a theme of 'Winter Wildlife of Cannock Chase'. As with previous years, the winning design chosen by Aidan and his team will be made into a professional published card and sent as the MP's official Christmas card to 500 recipients including local schools, businesses, charities, colleagues and friends throughout the constituency - as well as the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street! The winner will have their name, age and school printed on the inside front page of the card and will also receive a framed copy of their winning card, a certificate and a special present from the House of Commons. The closing date for entries is Friday 8th November 2013 and they can be submitted by hand or post to the MP Help Zone at 6 High Green Court, Newhall Street, Cannock, WS11 1GR. All entries should be A5 size (portrait or landscape) and drawn. Commenting Aidan said: "I am delighted once again to be able to give local pupils the opportunity to design my MP Christmas card which will go out to 500 recipients. This is the fourth year in a row I have held this competition and each year I am overwhelmed by the reaction and the standard of entries. "I'd like to say a huge thank you to Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) for sponsoring the competition again this year as without their support this competition would not be possible. "I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all of my young constituents the very best of luck and I look forward to receiving their entries". Phil Pemble from Pertemps People Development Group added: "We are delighted to be working once again with Aidan in encouraging local schoolchildren to participate in his annual Christmas card competition. It's becoming a tradition in schools across Cannock Chase to find the design that lands on the doormat of so many important people, including the Prime Minister, and one we're delighted to be involved with."

Business awards winners decided ahead of presentation evening

The judges go through the business awards entries. A panel of distinguished local judges including Newlife CEO Sheila Brown OBE and Mark Shipp, Editor of the Cannock Chronicle, yesterday picked the winners of the 2013 Cannock Chase Business Awards. Picture shows the Judges sifting through the many entries. Over 75 nominations were received for the 11 prestigious awards on offer, each of which was created to recognise excellence shown by a local Cannock Chase business. Local people were encouraged to nominate businesses by completing an on-line nomination form and businesses were able to enter themselves by detailing their achievements and successes. The winning businesses will be announced at an official 'Winners Reception Evening' on Friday 25th October at the Premier Suite in Cannock. This year's event is the second instalment of the hugely popular Business Awards, organised for the first time ever last year by the Chase MP Aidan Burley in partnership with The Best of Cannock's Steve Mallows. The Awards aim to recognise and reward the important work and success of local businesses, big and small, across Cannock Chase. Last year over 75 businesses took part, winning awards in 12 categories, presented at a sit down dinner for over 250 local businessmen and women by TV Host Llewela Bailey. Commenting, Aidan said: "I would like to thank all those businesses who have entered this year's awards. I have been overwhelmed by the reaction and I know that the judges found it extremely difficult to pick the 11 winners. "These awards are my attempt to highlight the unsung businesses in Cannock Chase which are the life blood of our economy, and I look forward to seeing all the entrants at the presentation evening later this month." Steve Mallows added: "The entries have come in from businesses of all sizes from Hednesford, Rugeley and Cannock, it's great to hear about successes, and reward those businesses that are flourishing despite recent economic difficulties. Cannock Chase really does have some excellent businesses and acknowledging them is, I believe, very important."

Aidan in the papers:

Birmingham Mail Thursday 10th October 2013

MP Aidan Burley backs the Santa dash

Aidan Burley MP with Alastair Payne, Nora Smith and Lissy Milligan. Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley donned his Santa hat to launch a local festive fundraising challenge. The fourth annual Newlife Santa Dash returns to Cannock town centre on Saturday, December 14, with runners, joggers and walkers invited to join in the festive fun to raise money to support local disabled and terminally ill children. Mr Burley will be joining participants for the one-mile pre-Christmas fundraiser, organised by Cannock-based national childrens disability charity Newlife Foundation. The charity is calling on local runners and enthusiastic fundraisers to think ahead and sign up now. Participants will be charged a 5 entry fee and asked to raise a minimum of 30 sponsorship. Past entrants will receive a 50 per cent discount on the entry fee. Newlife will provide every adult participant with a Santa suit and every child who takes part with a Santa hat. Sign up at www.newlifecharity.co.uk/events.

Burley welcomes current account switch service

Chase MP Aidan Burley has welcomed a simpler world for account switching with the launch of the new Current Account Switch Service in Cannock Chase. The Current Account Switch Service, launched last month by the Payments Council, is a new, free to use service designed to make switching current account from one bank or building society to another simple, reliable and hassle-free. It has initially launched with 33 bank and building society brands offering the new service and the accompanying Current Account Switch Guarantee, which will benefit consumers, small charities and small businesses in Cannock Chase, with more brands to follow in 2014. Not only will the new service reduce the time it takes to switch accounts from between an average of 18-30 days to just seven working days, but it will also help to increase transparency and choice for customers. Importantly, the service is backed by the Guarantee, which offers protection should anything go wrong with the switch, and will give customers the confidence to switch their bank account should they wish to do so. In the past two years, only 5 per cent of individuals in Staffordshire have chosen to switch their bank account. Despite people showing willingness to switch their providers of insurance and utilities services, there has been an apparent reticence to date to switch current account provider, staying with their current bank for an average of 17 years, and 29% of those using the same bank as one or both of their parents. Commenting Aidan said: I warmly welcome the launch of the Current Account Switch Service and the benefits it will bring to my constituents in Cannock Chase. Consumers, small businesses and small charities alike can now have the confidence to make that switch, knowing that all their payments in and out will be taken care of, and that the Guarantee exists to protect them should anything go wrong. I look forward to seeing increased competition in the current account market as banks and building societies work hard to attract and keep happy both new and existing customers.

Burley backs Diabetes UK campaign

Aidan has backed a campaign by Diabetes UK to reach the 7 million people in the UK who are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes, and he is urging people in Cannock Chase to have their risk of the condition checked. The Diabetes UK campaign, funded by its National Charity Partnership with Tesco, aims to help people understand the seriousness of Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to devastating health complications such as amputation, blindness and stroke, so that people understand the importance of preventing it. The campaign will also raise awareness of the risk factors of the condition being over 40 (or over 25 if you are from a South Asian background); being overweight or having a close family member with diabetes and is urging people to take a risk assessment if any of these risk factors apply to them. People can do this online (www.diabetes.org.uk/riskscore), by visiting a pharmacy or by going to their GP. Those at high risk can then be given information about how to reduce their risk as up to 80 per cent of cases of Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented through healthy lifestyle changes. As well as identifying those at high risk, the campaign is expected to identify some of the estimated 850,000 people in the country who have undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. It is really important that these people are detected as if the condition is not diagnosed early, or is left untreated, it is more likely to lead to devastating complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputation. Commenting Aidan said: "Type 2 diabetes is a very serious condition that can lead to complications such as blindness, amputations and strokes and can have a devastating impact on both the people affected and their families. Yet there are many people in Cannock Chase who are at high risk of the condition or already have it but don't know it. It is important that these people get assessed so that they can get the treatment and support that they need to reduce their risk or manage the condition. This is why I'm backing Diabetes UK's campaign and urging local people to make themselves aware of the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and have an assessment if necessary." Barbara Young, Diabetes UK Chief Executive, said: "Diabetes is one of the greatest health challenges that we face. There are 7 million people at high risk of Type 2 diabetes and the rise of the condition is leading to early deaths and devastating health complications and heartache to families. "Diabetes can lead to devastating complications and shatters lives and families so it's really essential that people in Cannock Chase get checked and this is why I'm delighted that Aidan has added his voice to this call."

Aidan in the papers:

Fears over maternity unit closure

Craig Hughes, Express & Star Wednesday 2nd October 2013 A mother of twins who were born at Stafford Hospital has hailed the out- standing care she received, as she warned against plans to close its maternity unit. Jennifer Leathwood delivered Zachary and Riley at Stafford on August 28 this year and today praised staff for their fantastic care. It came as a public consultation on the proposals to cut services from the hospital closed at midnight. Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy is opposing plans to close Staffords maternity unit, withdraw paediatric inpatient care and downgrade critical care. Zachary needed to be put on an incubator after weighing just 3Ibs 14oz and spent around a month in the special care baby unit. Riley, who weighed just over 5Ibs, was initially tube fed after his arrival. Part-time paramedic Jennifer, who lives with her partner Stuart Pope in Foxtail Way, Wimblebury, Cannock, said they had been grateful for the efforts of staff. The 37-year-old said: We were really impressed, I dont think we could have had better care, it is such a shame it is going to go, it will leave a big hole. From what we have experienced I think it is such a shame they are thinking of shutting maternity. All the staff were fantastic, you just cant fault them. Jennifer has another boy Jacob aged seven and her partner Stuart, a distribution manager, has a 10-year-old son Callum. Their twins were born on August 28. The cuts at Stafford would mean the dissolution of Mid Staffordshire NHS. Foundation Trust, which runs Stafford and Cannock, with other trusts including Wolverhampton taking on the running of those sites. Mr Lefroy says he supports Mid Staffs being axed but wants services to be retained. Cannock MP Aidan Burley has also submitted his response to the plans, which will lead to the underused Cannock Chase Hospital building receiving an extra influx of patients from Wolverhampton. Bosses at New Cross would take over running the site under proposals. We now have a once in a generation opportunity to bring Cannock Chase Hospital to life again, Mr Burley said. However Mr Burley added he opposed closing maternity at Stafford. I do not believe the case has been made that that in itself is a reason for moving all maternity care from Stafford.

5 ways to contact Aidan Burley MP:

By Phone: 01543 502 447 By email: aidan.burley.mp@parliament.uk By post: Aidan Burley MP 6 High Green Court, Newhall Street Cannock, WS11 1GR In person: Click here for details of how to book an appointment at Aidan Burley MPs regular help and advice surgeries.

www.aidanburleymp.org

More news from Aidan Burley MP, coming soon Please forward this email on to anyone you think may be interested. If you have had this email forwarded to you and would like to be added to the mailing list, please send an email to: news@aidanburleymp.org with JOIN in the subject heading. To unsubscribe from this list, please return an e-mail to news@aidanburleymp.org with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject heading.

Aidan Burley MP Working for you, all year round.

Published & Promoted by Aidan Burley MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA