Wirral Letters: March 21

Mar 21 2012 Birkenhead News

Mother’s Day book disgrace

OVER the past months Wirral News readers have been kept up to date with scandal after scandal relating to Wirral Council.

We hear promise and assurances on a regular basis but do things improve – NO.

Council tax payers are to be given a small reduction to try and gain their respect – come on now -– respect is earned and cannot be bought.

To earn respect you have to be totally honest with integrity, compassion and understanding and be totally trustworthy whilst being transparent in your daily workings.

In the light of this it should have come as no surprise to the hundreds of family members and friends who attended Landican on Sunday March 18 – Mothering Sunday – only to find the Book of Remembrance securely locked away with absolutely no access.

Very upsetting and distressing to all those who attended.

Wirral Council you are a disgrace. Wirral Council is all too quick to take your money for these services at Landican but where is its compassion and understanding ?

It’s well hidden away and lacking in the basic principles and understanding needed when dealing with the public.

Distressed

Eastham (name and address supplied)

Jim Lester, head of Cultural Services at Wirral Council said: “We are looking into why the Book of Remembrance wasn’t open on Sunday and would like to extend our sincere apologies to anyone who was inconvenienced.”

NHS attacked

IN REPLY to your article on March 14 "private Wing Plan for CCO”. I liken the private health care companies in this country to a cancer that if not diagnosed and eradicated early will finally kill off its host. In this case Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology.

CCO will be reduced to just two linear accelerator machines (Linacs) instead of the present 10 they have on site.

The other eight are to be moved across to the new £160m site at the “New Royal” due to be built by PFI funds which will cost £3m a month for 30 years to the health authority here on Merseyside.

Amazing that these “benefactors” are that proud of their investment they hide behind the cloak of financial and business confidentiality.

Why? Will these predators be allowed to poach the skilled radiographers and others trained by the NHS?

Will they buy, lease their own Linacs or will that be part of their contract, i.e. access to the two Linacs that remain?

I ask Yvonne Bottomley, how will these profits she highlights for the betterment of NHS patients be gained?

I’m sure by the very nature of these predators who by their involvement on this and other privatisation schemes that they will want to hang onto every penny. That’s what they are in business for. Perhaps as a sign of good faith and commitment to the area they should offer to finance the running costs and upkeep of St Johns and Claire House hospices.

I can hear the laughter already.

Be in no doubt the NHS is under an insidious attack that if not checked will bring about the lucrative parts of the NHS being hived off.

Tony Weedon and family

Bromborough

Back the Trust

THIS is a wake-up call to everyone living on the Wirral.

Wirral Community NHS Trust is to become an NHS Community Foundation Trust and is holding a number of consultation meetings where you can also join the free membership programme.

Anyone over the age of 13 years can join. Members will be able to have an input on everything from how services are run, to patient care.

I went to the meeting last Wednesday evening at Williamson Art Gallery. It was a very interesting couple of hours. The senior management team were there to explain the changes; there was a focus group questionnaire and also displays and information stands manned by the staff of the various sections of the community trust.

Just 13 members of the public bothered to turn up.

This is OUR Community NHS Service freely available to us all when we need it. The next meeting is on Wednesday 28th March from 5-7pm at Wallasey Town Hall.

Be there!

Let’s show some of the commitment that the staff of the community trust show.

Bob Giles

Prenton