Friday 17 September 2010

REPORT OF LOBBY OF SOMERSET PCT MEETING, 15TH SEPTEMBER 2010

We should congratulate ourselves on assembling a lobby at such short notice: there were 4 CHS staff, 2 Bridgwater Trades Council, 3 Yeovil Trades Council, 1 Unite rep. from Westlands, Chair of Bridgwater Senior Citizens’ Forum, 2 Bridgwater Forward, 1 member of Yeovil Green Party, and Unite full-time regional officer Heathcliffe Pettifer.
Also present were representatives from BBC Somerset, Western Daily Press, the Guardian and a local Yeovil paper. I understand that BBC Somerset carried at least two reports of the meeting and our presence during the day.
At the beginning, Sheralyn, Sharon and myself were allowed to put questions/comments ( 3 minutes each) to the Board members. Sheralyn asked for an extension of the deadline for decision-making, Sharon asked for a staff ballot, and I said the consultation was inadequate, the “social enterprise” option should be scrapped and Community Health Services should remain within the NHS. Letters were circulated from Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP, Charlie Graham ( Green Party) and Brian Smedley ( Bridgwater Trades Union Council and Labour Party) all asking for an extension to the deadline for decision-making.
Chief Executive, Ian Tipney explained the background to the proposals to transfer Community Health Services. I’m not entirely sure what to make of a man who calls health spending: “ mapping the money to individual care pathways”, but when he claimed that the PCT “had engaged very thoroughly with staff” ( this is after a 12% response rate to the staff consultation) I realised we might be inhabiting parallel universes! He said that the debate should not be about a competition between two organisational forms ( i.e. setting up a social enterprise and merging with the existing NHS foundation) but finding the best way to organise and deliver community health services. This attempt to de-politicise the issue is used to persuade Board members that they are not taking part in the government’s ideological crusade against the NHS, but simply making choices about the best way to deliver services.  It may be that one or two of the members believe this: indeed, at the end of the meeting, one member asked whether it was true that a social enterprise would mean community health services being outside the NHS! It’s frightening to think that it had only just occurred to him! Moral: beware of people in positions of power who say they are not “political”! ( see PCT web-site and details of PCT Board members!)
Judith Brown summarised the feedback from staff ansd stressed that, whatever the outcome, there will be no additional NHS organisation: there are only two options remaining. 
Phil Brice then summarised the responses from stakeholders and public. He seemed to think that 36 responses was a satisfactory number. If we had expected some doubt to creep in that perhaps only giving people around 10 working days to respond to a complex set of proposals, during a fortnight in the summer holidays, might be just a tad unreasonable, then I can only say that the members were desperate to be reassured that this was not the case. In the questions and discussion at the end, most contributors said they were now reassured that the PCT had done the best it could in the circumstances! The responsibility was placed at the door of the government who they say are bringing deadlines forward. Why does it not occur to anyone to challenge the government? Isn’t this how elected dictatorships come about? Judith Brown and the Chief Executive were vague on some of the details of the transfer to a social enterprise, in particular in relation to pensions. Tipney said he thought it was important to “persuade” the social enterprise to set up a pension scheme comparable with the NHS! He is clearly unaware of what is happening to private pensions in the real world. Or is he?
What has shocked me from the start is that there have not yet been any discussions with the NHS Foundation Trust about a possible merger, so the Trust’s response to this option is unknown! Further proof, if you needed any, that the PCT made up its mind which option to recommend before they started the consultation.
Both Sharon and Sheralyn returned firmly to their opening positions in their remarks at the end of the meeting. They should be congratulated for insisting so calmly and effectively on the rights of staff to be properly involved. The recommendation of the PCT will be forwarded to the Strategic Health Authority, who will announce a decision on Monday.
Lindsey is organising a follow-up meeting for staff to consider the SHA decision and the next step for staff: date and venue to be announced

GLEN BURROWS
BRIDGWATER TRADES UNION COUNCIL

Thursday 16 September 2010

Bridgwater Arts Centre 25th September



BRIDGWATER GIVES PEACE A DANCE


Come and join Bridgwater Peace Group at Bridgwater Arts Centre on 25th September, for a day of music, dance and discussion about peace, war and community, starting at 2pm, and finishing at 11pm. The event is supported by Bridgwater Trades Union Council.

Singer, song-writer, author and activist Leon Rosselson, described as “folk-music’s most
accomplished mischief-maker” will perform some of his best known songs, including “ The
World Turned Upside Down”, and talk about his life as a peace activist. Joining him will be
a number of guests from peace movement, to talk about their experiences.
A singing workshop will bring together the themes of peace and folk music, and give
people an opportunity to participate in some community singing
In the evening, Skabro, a 7-piece band from West Somerset, are playing authentic oldskool
ska, with support from Dave Chapple’s Red Shadow Sound system, playing the best
of vintage reggae ska on original vinyl, and a good time is guaranteed for all.
Bridgwater Peace Group believes that peace is not just the absence of war, but involves
people working together to build a society based on respect and tolerance, where
problems are solved through negotiation, not conflict. And, of course, plenty of music and
dancing!

Admission: is free from 2-6pm. Tickets for the evening event with Skabro: £3 in advance;
£4 on the door ( tickets available from Bridgwater Arts Centre , Tel. 01278 422700)
Present programme (subject to change)
14.00 Greetings and first Speaker
14.45 Voice of the People singing workshop
16.00 Speaker
16.30 Leon Rosselson
Finish of afternoon session 18.00
Evening
20.00-24.00 SkaBro and disco

FURTHER DETAILS: Phil Parratt: mob. 07719951031 pparratt@hotmail.com
Note: Bridgwater Peace Group and its sister organisation Sedgemoor Peace Group were
established in the run-up to the 2003 illegal invasion of Iraq, and have continued to
campaign against wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bridgwater Peace Group has also
organised local events in support of peace and taken part in national demonstrations,
including protests against Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.

Monday 13 September 2010

Somerset NHS workers to lobby Primary Care Trust meeting, 15th September

Health Visitors, School Nurses, community hospital and other workers, as well as members of the public will lobby the meeting of Somerset Primary Care Trust on Wednesday 15th September, in Yeovil, to persuade the members of the county’s NHS Primary Care Trust to vote to stay within the NHS, rather than turn the Community Health Service into a Social Enterprise.


There is widespread concern that a token ‘consultation’ with both staff and members of the public has been rushed through during a peak holiday period, and the PCT are insisting that the final decision must be made at their September meeting. Staff are asking for more time for a proper consultation, involving staff AND public, which will end with the final decision being made by a democratic staff ballot.

The key Somerset PCT meeting is being held at Yeovil, headquarters of the Somerset Primary Care Trust, on 15th September. The campaign is asking for maximum staff and public support at the meeting, which is held at Wynford House, Lufton Way, Yeovil, BS22 8HR, starting at 10.00am.

The lobby will assemble at 9.30am. Members of the public are invited to put questions to the PCT at the start of the meeting.


For more information, please contact:

BRIDGWATER TRADES UNION COUNCIL

Secretary: Dave Chapple, 1 Blake Place, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 5AU
Tel. 01278 450562 davechapple@btinternet.com

Saturday 11 September 2010

UNITY IS STRENGTH! JOIN US!

A message from Dave Chapple Bridgwater TUC Secretary;-

"Trades unions believe in, and campaign for justice and equality, in the workplace and in the community. Bridgwater Trades Union Council's message, in the workplace and in our community is that if we work together we can achieve these aims. That's why we have an organisation  which brings trades unionists together to campaign  around local concerns and make links with other groups in the community.

If your trade union branch is not yet affiliated, contact your Branch Secretary or contact me ."

DAVE CHAPPLE
BRIDGWATER TRADES UNION COUNCIL
davechapple@btinternet.com "
tel;- 01278 450562
mobile ;- 07776304276
1 Blake Place Bridgwater Somerset TA65AU