Health | Steve Middletons blog

NHS Bury announce cuts of £5.2 million

Bury’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has announced cuts of £5.2 million for the financial year just started, towards meeting an expected £7.3 million deficit for the year. The cuts agreed are: Primary Care (GPs etc) £1.1 million – the largest items being: – Terminating the Vulnerable Patient Scheme, saving c£0.1m. – Terminating the Clinical…

Free First Aid Workshops

In an effort to reach relevant groups British Red Cross are asking local groups if they are willing to arrange first aid sessions for people who may come into contact with our targeted risk groups. Everyday first aid sessions are being offered, by the British Red Cross, strategically to people most likely to use their…

Walk-in Centres Saved? (Or perhaps not…)

Bury’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) used a verbal update reported through several Twitter posts to inform residents that the two Walk-In Centres in bury (Bury and Prestwich) are not closing on 31 March 2018. Residents may recall that the consultation on the closure of both centres was ‘paused’ earlier this year by the CCG,…

Walk-In Centre Closures “Paused”

Councillors in Bury have been written to by Bury’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) informing us that the closure process of the Prestwich and Bury Walk-In Centres is now “paused”. At present the closure proposal, which had been agreed by the CCG, has been going through its formal consultation stage, but the CCG has announced…

Walk-In Centre Closure Formal Consultation

Bury’s NHS Clinical Commissioning Group is now formally consulting the public on the closure of Prestwich and Bury Walk-In Centres. The Governing Body of NHS Bury CCG have agreed a ‘redesign of urgent care services’, which includes closing the Walk-In Centres at its last meeting – following the initial public consultation. Members of the…

WANTED: new Trustees & Chair of Trustees at Creative Living Centre

Do you have the skills to help support an amazing local charity that supports over 250 local residents? Creative Living Centre is seeking new Trustees and a new Chair of Trustees The Creative Living Centre, is a charity supporting adults experiencing mental health problems through an integrated set of activities, therapies and support. They are…

Bury and Prestwich NHS walk-in centres set to close

Last night I attended the Prestwich Township Forum in the mistaken belief that the presentation by the Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG for short) was intending to consult the public on the drastic proposal to close the NHS walk-in centres, currently located in Bury town centre and Prestwich Longfield. Silly me. As we were pointedly…

Whitefield Ambulance Station to Close

It has now been confirmed that Whitefield Ambulance Station is closing. As we understand the ‘HQ function’ (offices) that have been there are going to Bolton. One ambulance will be based at Whitefield Fire Station, in Bury New Road, while the other will now be based at Bury Ambulance Station in Birch Street. The changes…

The Liberal Democrats Work for the Less Well Off

People are struggling to cope with rising food, fuel and mortgage bills and the politicians in Government fighting their corner are the Liberal Democrats. It’s largely thanks to them that there have been a some tax policies to help low and middle income earners who need as much help as they can get at the…

Nothing to do with politics, but since no mainstream media could find the space to point this out, I thought I write a short blog post about my Home Office colleague David Smith and 10 of his friends who walked 30 miles from Chester to Hale in aid of The Christie. They started the walk…

Passing the buck

I admit to being baffled by recent correspondence from both my MP, Hazel Blears and The HM Treasury. Today I finally received replies to queries I raised back in MARCH, in relation to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme decision to deny The Christie Hospital a refund of their £6.5m of charity money lost when two…

Colin Hendry’s wife has died

I have just heard the sad news that Colin Hendry’s wife, Denise, has died after a battle with a serious infection. Denise has suffered terribly since her botched cosmetic surgery operation in a private hospital in 2002. Denise had been seriously ill in Salford Royal Hospital for 11 weeks, and died on Friday surrounded by her…

The Christie wins back charity cash

I’m perhaps a week late in reporting the happy news that The Christie, formerly known as The Christie Hospital in Withington (Manchester) has been told by the government that the NHS will pay back the £6.5m lost in the Icelandic banking collapse. Without the support of 100,000 people who signed The Manchester Evening News petition…

I’ve got a queasy feeling

For the second time this week I’ve woken up feeling ever so slightly queasy – probably something I ate. So it was appropriate that I would read, whilst browsing The Times Online, a letter written to the editor. Sir, “Quantitative easing” is far too cumbersome a phrase. I suggest that we truncate the phrase into…

Back the Cash Back for Christie Campaign

It was with some dismay that I read in the Manchester Evening News that Christie’s Hospital in Manchester has lost it’s appeal to recover the £6.5m that was lost in the Icelandic banking crash. Sadly, the hospital’s attempt to claim the charity money back through the Financial Compensation Scheme has been unsuccessful, as their claim…