Letter from Parliament

Jim Dobbin MP

As plans for patient care develop it is exciting but comforting to see the new health centres becoming visible to the public. I have seen the plans for the new centre underway in Deeplish and the new centres in Alkrington and Heywood.  Middleton, Castleton and the Pennines will also have one. They are impressive buildings and will be a core facility for health delivery across the borough.

The Health Service has been changing since 1948 following its creation by Labour’s Aneurin Bevan. The changes will be phased in over the next five years. The rapid improvements in medical technology and treatment will continue as research into disease and better health care advances. Health care closer to the community is the future. There will be more emphasis on public health matters and prevention. Surely this must be the way ahead. There are plans under discussion by the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust to create a Rochdale East Cluster, a Rochdale West Cluster and a Heywood and Middleton cluster for GPs in those areas to agree on the provision of a wide ranging service.

Dr Mohammed Jiva explained that ENT, respiratory, gynaecology, cardiology, dermatology, minor surgery, mental health, diabetes, drug dependency and other services would have a lead clinician. Social Services would be collaborating in these radical changes. I will comment from time to time as necessary on future changes. I have every confidence that these changes will provide better local co-ordination of service delivery and reduce the necessity for hospitalisation except for the more serious conditions which will be dealt with by clinical experts in specialist centres. These changes are being led by clinical experts with many years experience. They are advising and guiding the politicians and that is how it should be.

A recent conversation with New Heart for Heywood’s chief Executive, Vicki Devonport highlighted the progress that is being made on the new Health Connections Centre at the planned Sports Village in Heywood. Both facilities will be a tremendous community asset to the people of Heywood.

I look forward to the regeneration of Heywood Town Centre. The people of Middleton will now see the visible signs of a new Town Centre following the turf cutting ceremony for the new civic and leisure centre. On the same day I was shown the new gym and dance theatre for 8-14 year olds. I understand the dance studio is the first in the UK.

I organised a meeting with Township chairman, Cllr Peter Williams, Inspector Gary Hall and Sergeant Hargreaves, Cllr Maureen Rowbotham and Alan Godson to discuss concerns involving youth harassment in certain parts of Middleton.  I would like to try and find solutions that work. Pride Media invited me to the Burnside Centre to be interviewed by three young men who were experiencing media communication skills. They asked me about my role as an MP both in Westminster and in the constituency.

The Salvation Army Flower Festival was a wonderful celebration of 125 years of involvement in Christian service. All of the beautiful floral displays had themes associated with the Salvation Army, including instruments, banners and uniforms. The displays were a reminder of the great community work that the Salvation Army do locally and nationally.

The annual Voluntary Sector Question Time took place in the Town Hall.  Paul Rowen MP, the Youth Member of Parliament and I discussed a number of issues pertinent to the Voluntary Sector. They asked us various questions on local and Government policies affecting their sector.  Helen Duncan, Chairman, Kathy Shaw, Chief Officer and of course Sheila Acton (actually retired but you’d never know) lead an excellent voluntary sector team in the borough.  It needs to be recognised that the voluntary sector provides support to the statutory sector that enables services to be delivered. Without that input, public services would collapse. I enjoyed the event and look forward to future question and answer sessions.

Gang crime, the recent stabbings and shootings involving young people have increased anxiety in the community and I am aware that there is considerable work taking place between youth improvement schemes, youth offending teams, criminal justice agencies, children’s services and the voluntary sector to find solutions and responses. The education system has to be a central part of any solution. I have some sympathy and support for the Chief Constable of Cheshire, Peter Fahy who stated in media reports that parents must be made more accountable and take responsibility for their offspring. It is clear that drugs and underage drinking plays a major part in this youth disruption.

The Make Space Youth Review, an independent body, established to consider how we can support young people in the UK, encouraging them to achieve their full potential was an opportunity for young people to be involved in a major discussion about their needs for the future.  16,000 young people with parents, teachers, youth workers and others took part in the project. The report, launched in July of this year, was answered by the Government which went on to launch a spectacular new deal for youth services in their 10 year strategy for youth. £150million of government money has been invested for a young people’s centre in every community, providing dedicated spaces for young people to meet as well as gain access to music, creative arts, sports and counselling, with support for teenagers who are struggling.

Could I end this article by once again requesting the return of a weekly bin collection service in Heywood? The system is now in chaos with complaints increasing rapidly. I will continue to push for this until the once flagship bin service is returned. The bin men are being asked to deliver an unworkable system. They have my sympathy and support.