I was disgusted by the story about the appalling assault on 15 year old Luke Anderson in Goole recently. Luke is a pupil at Vermuyden School where I have taught and the force of the attack on him is really very shocking.
Luke's Dad tried to report the attack at Goole Police Station, only to find that it was closed and he couldn't contact anyone on the intercom. Luke went to Goole Hospital but had to be transferred to Scunthorpe Hospital due to the lack of an ear, nose and throat specialist at Goole.
In the words of Luke's Dad, "What's the use of having a police station you can't report things to and a hospital you can't use?"
I could not agree more with these sentiments and that is why local Conservatives are fighting for longer opening hours at our Police Stations. What is the point of Humberside Police building stations that are never open to the public?
Archive - Mar 2007
Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime ... I think not.
Submitted by andrew on Mon, 19/03/2007 - 22:14.Will Mental Health Services Disappear Completely from Goole?
Submitted by andrew on Mon, 19/03/2007 - 22:03.I have been shocked to discover that the Humber Mental Health Trust is to shortly launch a consultation on the future of adult mental health services in the East Riding.
This consultation could lead to the closure of the Bartholomew House in-patient unit in Goole, meaning that adults in our area could have to travel to Hull to access mental health services. Residents will re-call the loss of the Rivers Ward at Goole Hospital which used to provide in-patient mental health care for over 65s. The Trust closed the ward just a few months ago and I am concerned what the real agenda is here.
I have nothing against changes which will increase the amount of care provided in the home. However, this is not always appropriate and it must be sensible to maintain a range of care facilities in the area. Mental health issues are very unpredictable and it seems short sighted to close down these relatively small facilities. We need to be sure that the motivation is not financial. Rest assured I shall be fighting this closure.
Whilst we are on health services I was interested to see this week that Brigg and Goole's current MP is supporting the closure of beds at Withernsea, Beverley Westwood and Driffield Hosptials. The proposed closures would see beds transferred to Bridlington and Goole and so I can only assume that Mr Cawsey thinks that there is political mileage in him supporting the closure of hospitals in other people's constituencies if it means 'his' hospital will get more beds. I think residents in other parts of the East Riding may take a different view!
And to think Labour mocked me when I launched my petition against local NHS cuts. What cuts they said. Maybe they should ask mental health patients in our area if they think cuts are a reality or not.
This consultation could lead to the closure of the Bartholomew House in-patient unit in Goole, meaning that adults in our area could have to travel to Hull to access mental health services. Residents will re-call the loss of the Rivers Ward at Goole Hospital which used to provide in-patient mental health care for over 65s. The Trust closed the ward just a few months ago and I am concerned what the real agenda is here.
I have nothing against changes which will increase the amount of care provided in the home. However, this is not always appropriate and it must be sensible to maintain a range of care facilities in the area. Mental health issues are very unpredictable and it seems short sighted to close down these relatively small facilities. We need to be sure that the motivation is not financial. Rest assured I shall be fighting this closure.
Whilst we are on health services I was interested to see this week that Brigg and Goole's current MP is supporting the closure of beds at Withernsea, Beverley Westwood and Driffield Hosptials. The proposed closures would see beds transferred to Bridlington and Goole and so I can only assume that Mr Cawsey thinks that there is political mileage in him supporting the closure of hospitals in other people's constituencies if it means 'his' hospital will get more beds. I think residents in other parts of the East Riding may take a different view!
And to think Labour mocked me when I launched my petition against local NHS cuts. What cuts they said. Maybe they should ask mental health patients in our area if they think cuts are a reality or not.
I'm Back!!!
Submitted by andrew on Sat, 17/03/2007 - 19:05.I have returned from a week skiing in France with only the odd graze and small bruise. The mountains were well and truly tamed by my skiing abilities!!! Perhaps not.
Sorry for the silence in the past few weeks but this is not a reflection of our work on the ground. There is much going on in the constituency at the moment and the campaign progresses fantastically. As I know Labour check this blog out I am not going to say what we are doing at the moment but lets just say the response has surprised me in just how good it has been!
More soon I promise!
Sorry for the silence in the past few weeks but this is not a reflection of our work on the ground. There is much going on in the constituency at the moment and the campaign progresses fantastically. As I know Labour check this blog out I am not going to say what we are doing at the moment but lets just say the response has surprised me in just how good it has been!
More soon I promise!