2007 News

NHS cuts mean closure for Springboard. 20/8/2007

Kingston's 22m deficit means cuts to local NHS services and the latest victim is Springboard at Tolworth Hospital. Springboard provides training and sheltered employment for people recovering from mental health problems or with learning difficulties. Helen Whately visited Springboard to find out more about the services it provides and the impact of closure. Springboard offers a range of training and employment opportunities which are hard to find anywhere else. The great worry for users is where they will go once it closes. Kingston Primary Care Trust is looking for alternatives but admits that for many there may well be no equivalent service. After speaking to Springboard's users, their relatives and staff, Helen said "Everyone is trying to find a way to keep Springboard going. If the PCT can't fund it, could it become a self-funding social enterprise or could an alternative income be found; so far we don't have an answer, but this service is too important to give up on."

Helen speaks to the students at Kingston University Freshers' Fair. 21/9/2007
The local Conservative Future group was at Kingston University Freshers’ Fair this
week working tirelessly to promote our candidate Helen Whately. Despite stiff
competition from nightclubs, the local cinema and university sport teams the joint
Kingston and Richmond Conservative stall received a high number of visitors. From the
positive response we got from students we can tell that this year is going to be a good
one for Conservative Future. Students were keen to quiz Helen over her priorities for
Kingston, discussing issues such as transport, the environment, education and the
NHS with students as well as sounding out their views on Boris Johnson for Mayor.
Helen said "It's important for young people to become politically engaged. Decisions
made in Westminster impact us not just now but decades into the future. This
generation of students will have to live with this government's mistakes."

Helen campaigns for a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty. 21/9/2007
Helen was out in New Malden today campaigning with our MEP Syed Kamall for a
referendum on the EU Reform Treaty, better known as the EU Constitution. In 2005
Labour promised the people of Britain a vote on the EU Constitution, but it was
rejected by the French and the Dutch. Now the Constitution is back with a new name
the ‘EU Reform Treaty’. The Conservatives believe that you should have the vote that
you were promised. The people of New Malden clearly agree, shown by the hundreds
of names Helen collected in the space of a few hours.

Helen said “I’m campaigning on the EU Reform Treaty because Labour made a
manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the Constitution. This treaty is the
Constitution in all but name. Brown should be held to account for the promises he
breaks. He says that he will trust people but his actions prove this simply is not true. The EU Treaty would transfer substantial powers from Britain to the EU: a change like this must not be slipped through under the radar.”

"Why hasn't our MP spoken up for Hobkirk?"4/10/2007
Hobkirk House has now been shut down by the Lib Dems. Hobkirk House was one of the constituency’s two day centres for the elderly. Helen visited Hobkirk in May to find out for herself how users would be affected. After her visit she said “It’s clear that Hobkirk users will be devastated when it closes and some will end up staying at home alone all day”. Helen joined the protest outside the Guildhall where speeches by the elderly, letters from GPs and a 2,500 signature petition were all dismissed by the Lib Dem Council as every one of them voted for the closure. Helen spoke about her frustration with the Lib Dems; “I’m very disappointed that Ed Davey MP has failed to speak up for Hobkirk House; his duty is to stand up for his constituents and if that means speaking out against his Lib Dem colleagues in the council, that’s what he should do”

No More Care Cuts! 21/11/2007
Today local residents and Conservatives held a protest in Kingston town centre against cuts to Kingston’s mental health services. The protest was organised by Cllr. Mary Clarke and Cllr Ian George, supported by Conservative Parliamentary Candidate Helen Whately. They were joined by regular users and staff from Springboard and relatives of patients in Fuchsias Ward. Under a fuchsia-pink banner calling for ‘No More Care Cuts’ the group handed out leaflets about the threatened services and invited passers-by to sign the petition for an end to the cuts. The response from locals was overwhelming, with many stopping to find out more and expressing outrage as well as concern. The petition was signed by over 600 people in just 4 hours.

The campaign will continue throughout the winter with opportunities to sign the petition in New Malden and Surbiton planned. It can also be found on the website. Cllr Mary Clark has been campaigning vigorously to help those who are at risk of losing their mental health care services. Mary said; “I am truly appalled at the utter disregard for the welfare of Kingston’s mental health patients. The PCT should stop seeing their patients as numbers and pound signs and start celebrating these unique and necessary services.” Helen visited Springboard in August and has pledged to do everything possible to make sure it survives.

At Saturday’s protest, Helen said; " In the last year mental health services have been cut around the country. Now the cuts have arrived here in Kingston. These services are precious and transform the lives of the users and their families. We must rally round and stop the cuts before it’s too late."