02Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must move faster to improve NHS Test & Trace system

Parliamentary news
Responding to news that the NHS Test and Trace system is still failing to find a quarter of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, Liberal Democrat Health, Wellbeing and Social Care spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “The latest NHS Test & Trace figures suggest the system is not improving at the rate that it needs to. "With lockdown restrictions due to be eased further from Saturday, a robust and effective system to test, trace and isolate every case of coronavirus to keep people safe is absolutely critical. "Ministers must move much faster to improve the Test & Trace system and local authorities must be at the heart of those efforts. This means providing real-time, postcode-level data now on positive tests so that local Directors of Public Health, who have the…
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01Jun 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Oldham Borough, hit hard by Covid-19, will now gets less cash

Borough news, Campaigns
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Opposition leader on Oldham Council, is appalled at a shocking new study, which shows the areas worst hit by Covid-19 will now receive some of the largest cuts in Government support.   Oldham Borough is in the top ten Councils worst hit by the virus.  More than £100 million of public money has been diverted away from councils in the bottom half of the English deprivation index.  Oldham Borough is unfortunately one of those council areas. Conservative run areas are not receiving funding cuts in the same way.  Many believe this is a sly political move by Boris Johnson and the Conservatives.  Oldham Borough will now not receive £1.1 million diverted monies.  Councillor Sykes said: “The cash was supposed to…
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05Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems lead cross-party call for improved mental health support amidst Covid-19 crisis

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have secured cross-party and third sector support for their call for the Government to improve mental health support during the coronavirus crisis.Writing to the Secretary of Health, the cross-party group of Parliamentarians have expressed fears that government advice to stay at home will leave people “worried about coronavirus, their jobs, housing” and “anxious about their family’s health and their own.”Over 40 MPs from across the political spectrum have signed the letter highlighting the “inextricable link” between mental and physical health and urging the Government to: launch a publicity campaign signposting the mental health support available during the coronavirus crisis.send public health leaflets, which include advice on looking after mental  health and signposts to organisations that can offer mental health support during the crisis, to all homes.increase the level of funding for mental health charities offering support during the coronavirus crisis, to reduce pressure on the NHS. The Mental Health…
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03Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must set out when every NHS and social worker will be tested

Parliamentary news
Responding to the announcement from the Health Secretary that the Government aims to carry out 100,000 tests a day by the end of April, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “While Liberal Democrats have full confidence in the Chief Medical Officer, the response from Government Ministers where coronavirus testing is concerned has been disgracefully slow. “Moves now to increase testing are welcome, and we hope they succeed, but NHS workers’ confidence has been shaken after previous promises from the Secretary of State that have not been delivered. We need much greater transparency now.  “The Government must also explain why the UK’s level of testing is still so low compared to some other countries and set out exactly when every NHS and social worker will be tested.”
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01Apr 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Misleading test numbers put public trust in govt at risk

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that the government did not in fact reach its target of 10,000 tests per day to diagnose coronavirus, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said: “Throughout the coronavirus crisis the Liberal Democrats have always been clear that retaining the public's trust has to be a top priority for the government. The fact that the government have seemingly given inaccurate information regarding the number of tests carried out is not only misleading, but reckless. “The Secretary of State for Health must come clean quickly. There needs to be an answer as to how this happened, as well as a commitment to ensure an incident such as this does not happen again. “Stopping the spread of coronavirus is hugely dependent on the public trusting the information and advice the government provides.…
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28Feb 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

People expect leadership from the PM on Coronavirus

Parliamentary news
Responding to the news that the PM will wait until Monday to chair a COBRA meeting on Coronavirus, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “People across the country are anxious and concerned about Coronavirus: they want to see leadership.  “The Liberal Democrats called on Boris Johnson to chair a COBRA meeting weeks ago to ensure everything was being done to prepare for a potential Coronavirus outbreak. With the NHS already so stretched, it’s gobsmacking that the Prime Minister has delayed chairing COBRA for so long.   “Just like his failure to visit communities hit by flooding, on Coronavirus Johnson seems like he’d rather bury his head in the sand than hear for himself what the experts are saying and what his Ministers are doing.”
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14Oct 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Urgent action needed in mental health and learning disability services – Lib Dems

Parliamentary news
Today the publication of CQC’s ‘State of Care 2018/19’ report reveals a rise of inpatient services for people with learning disabilities and/or autism that were rated inadequate. The report also shows a rise of child and adolescent mental health inpatient services rated inadequate. Responding to the report, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Vince Cable said: “It is rare for a public body such as the Care Quality Commission to be so scathing of the effects of Government policy. Their honesty is to be congratulated. “They highlight graphically the decline in standards for mental health and learning disability inpatient services. This means some of the most vulnerable are not receiving anything like the standards of care that they need. “Staffing shortages, coupled with inadequate funding solutions has…
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06Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Thousands dying waiting for social care as Govt ignores crisis

Thousands dying waiting for social care as Govt ignores crisis

Parliamentary news
Responding to the research by Age UK showing that more than 50,000 older people have now died waiting in vain for care during the 700 days since the Government first said it would publish a Social Care Green Paper, Former Liberal Democrat Health Minister Norman Lamb said: “These figures are tragic for many families and the stories of some of those who have been impacted should give many in government and across politics pause for thought. “People are turning for help in their old age and help is not there. Despite the crisis in adult social care the Conservatives are consistently and consciously underfunding these services and the social care green paper promised in March 2017 has now been delayed six times.“The Conservative Government is incapable of solving this problem themselves. They must now…
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01Feb 2019 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Cavity appearing in NHS dental workforce

Cavity appearing in NHS dental workforce

Parliamentary news
Responding to the reports that 1 in 4 new patients not currently on the books with an NHS dentist have tried and failed to secure an appointment due to recruitment problems, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Judith Jolly said: “This statistic is appalling and should be to Matt Hancock and those in the Conservative Government. As we see more and more dentists leave the NHS, it is clear that it is part of the wider NHS struggles to hire and retain staff. “One of the key problems with the NHS ten year plan was that it was completely undermined by a lack of serious workforce planning. The failure of the Tories to tackle the problems in recruitment and retention, in dentistry and across health professionals, is frankly unacceptable. Especially, considering over 26,000…
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09Dec 2018 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Liberal Democrats call for proper funding for public health services

Borough news
At the next full meeting of Oldham Council (Wednesday 12 December), the Liberal Democrats will be proposing a motion calling on the Conservative Government to restore disastrous cuts made to public health. The motion will be proposed by Councillor Chris Gloster and seconded by Councillor Garth Harkness. Councillor Chris Gloster In the 2015 Budget, the Chancellor announced a £200 million in-year cut to the Public Health Grant, followed by a further real-terms cut averaging 3.9% each year (until 2020/21) in the 2015 Spending Review. These cuts are having a significant impact on public health services and functions. By way of example, research conducted by Action on Smoking and Health and Cancer Research UK shows that, following reductions to the Public Health Grant in 2015, 2016, and 2017, stop smoking services…
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