2009 News

Council consults on Primary School expansion plans - but will Government find the money? 11th June 2009

This week Helen Whately, MP candidate, attended two of the Council’s consultation meetings about the expansion of primary schools in Kingston and Surbiton. It was an opportunity for Helen to meet parents and understand their views on the plans. Some concerns were raised by parents about the consultation process itself. Many felt that there was a lack of clarity about the process. They had expected a formal consultation meeting, but instead the events followed a ‘road show’ format. Council officers advised that formal meetings will happen in the autumn. The proposals also lacked the detail necessary for such an important decision. Again, council officers advised that more detail will be in the formal consultation in the autumn. Council officers stated that the Surbiton Hospital site has been chosen for the new primary school in Surbiton. In response Helen Whately said “The Surbiton Hospital site has a lot going for it – it’s located in one of the areas most in need of more school places, and there is plenty of space. However, I have asked the PCT to confirm that they have agreed to this, because a school wasn’t even mentioned in the report they commissioned in December on the future of the site. I’m also concerned that the Council doesn’t have a back up plan in case the Surbiton Hospital site falls through”.

In Chessington the expansion of Ellingham Primary School was the focus of discussion. Parents and teachers told Helen about the need for investment in the facilities, not least the hope for some green space for children to play in. Some parents were concerned about increasing the size of the school from one-form to two-form entry, both because of a change of atmosphere and practicalities such as lack of space for dropping-off and collecting children. However, the expansion program provides an opportunity for investment to be made in the facilities and can only go ahead if the practical problems like congestion at the school entrance are resolved. Commenting on the plans as a whole, Helen Whately said; “The other challenge the Council faces is securing funds for this expansion program. Every child has to have a school place by law, but with the public finances in such a mess it’s no wonder everyone is worrying where the money will come from. I’ll be campaigning to make sure we don’t lose out yet again because the Government doesn’t value voters here.”

Midwifes speak out about staff shortages at Kingston Hospital June 26th 2009
In June a group of concerned midwifes spoke out, in a letter to the Surrey
Comet, to highlight grave concerns over staff shortages. The letter raises a
number of points that need to be addressed. Midwifes are extremely
concerned that while the number of women booked into the hospital has
increased from 5000 to 7000 staff numbers have not kept pace. Although
 six extra beds were opened on one of the post natal wards to combat this,
 bed blocking is now commonplace. As a result women are occasionally
giving birth on the antenatal ward as there are no beds available. Midwifes
 are worried that a “conveyor belt” practice is now in place. A new policy
has been implemented to encourage new mothers to go home as little as
two hours after giving birth. They feel that this does not give new mothers
the amount of time needed to bond with their babies and to allow midwifes
to carry out their duties effectively. This has led to an increase in
re-admission rates as a result of mothers being sent home early.

Helen Whately, MP candidate, raised these issues last year when she
wrote to hospital management after waiting two or three days for a labour
bed because the hospital was too full. Since this letter was published
Helen has met with the head of midwifes and the head of obstetrics to
follow up these concerns. They both said that they were recruiting more
midwifes to address this shortage of staff. Helen said: "From my personal
experience it comes as no surprise because I got the impression they
were incredibly stretched and the midwives were having to rush between
women. I was however extremely impressed with the staff attitude and
level of care. My meeting was extremely positive and I hope that the
problems I highlighted last year will now be resolved. I have a great deal
of sympathy for all concerned, the Labour government has squandered billions of pounds of money in the NHS. Instead of investing money in frontline services it has wasted it on creating unnecessary layers of management and ill thought out campaigns.”
 
Local voluntary groups face unaffordable “rain tax”
Helen Whately has called on the Government to take immediate action to save local voluntary groups from the threatened ‘rain tax’- a huge hike in water charges which may be introduced as a result of Government guidance. The Government has advised water companies to introduce charges for surface water drainage. Many churches, scout groups and amateur sports clubs will pay hundreds of pounds more in higher bills. Helen spoke to volunteers helping at Hook First Scout Fair who were extremely concerned about the potential impact on their finances of paying several hundred pounds to Thames Water as a result.

The charges are by surface area so particularly costly for church halls and sports clubs – and the organisations using those sorts of community buildings which often have large roofs and car parks. Ministers have refused to accept responsibility, but the Government could use the forthcoming Flood and Water Management Bill to give water companies freedom to protect places of worship, scouts and guides groups, and amateur sports clubs from high charges through ‘social tariffs’. Helen Whately said: “I spoke to a volunteer at Hook First Scouts at their fair who told me how worried they are about the huge water charges. The sudden rise is totally unreasonable, and this is being forced on water companies by the Government. The Government needs to address flooding and drainage problems but this isn’t the answer. Water companies should be able to reduce the charges for voluntary groups given the vital role they play in community life.