Letter from Parliament - Jim Dobbin MP

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Jim Dobbin MP

The Pennine Acute Trust is the second largest Acute Trust in the UK. It is responsible for managing four former District General hospitals; Royal Oldham, North Manchester General; Fairfield and Rochdale Infirmary. The management of each of these sites is obviously a cause for concern following the recent Dispatches programme. 

The NHS proposals from Andrew Lansley and the Coalition Government have now been halted for a couple of months. There is justified speculation about how genuine this pause for reflection is. The Lib Dem/Tory Government has claimed that NHS funding is ring fenced and yet we have had 1000 job losses announced by the Pennine Acute Trust. These job losses should now be put on hold during this period of reflection and any staff who have already lost their jobs should be reinstated immediately. Mr Saxby must agree to urgent meeting of all Greater Manchester MPs affected by these decisions and with representatives of the Trade Unions and Health professionals to sort out this mess. It certainly looks like the 1000 job losses pre-empted the Health changes and should be re-considered.

Each passing day rings new examples of Cameron and Clegg incompetence and is a superb argument against a change to an alternative voting system. Imagine putting up with u turns on policy, with continued confused announcements and important policy decisions announced then changed or denied. I for one will be voting against AV on May 5th.

I was pleased to receive the Green Award from the ECO-School Project on behalf of St Edward’s Cof E Primary school in Castleton. All the children were present and they have to be congratulated for putting St Edward’s in the top three Green Schools in the country. Head teacher Lynne Coxall and her staff have done a wonderful job. It was great to see the different animals looked after at the school, especially the little piglets that obviously had the run of the school. It’s the first time I have seen a five star hotel for insects. The Eco-project is amazing.

I then had a surgery at Demesne Community Centre followed by one at Middleton Shopping Centre. I dashed up to Middleton Cricket Club for a publicity photo call before driving back to London on my way to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.