Teignbridge Matters

Read Anne Marie’s views in her weekly column; an advertisement sponsored by Conservative supporters.

Improving Services at Newton Abbot Hospital

Following my meeting last week with David Radford, the Chairman of Devon Primary Care Trust, I am delighted to say that David has agreed to look into concerns raised with me by constituents. With his clinical colleagues he will look at the viability of providing a limited dialysis provision following the closure of the unit at St Michael’s and implementing a consultant led outpatient clinic for minor mental health problems such as depression, in the new Newton Abbot Hospital. He will also look at communicating best practice guidelines for GPs on the diagnosis and treatment of Lymes Disease a debilitating illness resulting from bites by Ticks if not spotted and treated promptly. As the old number for Newton Abbot Hospital is still included in a number of current publications, the trust has now provided a voice message on the old telephone number giving the correct information. I am really delighted to hear that the hospital is also looking into extending its current range of services which I hope will include X-Ray services so that they could be available at weekends – that would be a good step forward.

Social Care

We must ensure we look after the most vulnerable in our community. I have visited a number of care and nursing homes and speaking to the hard working teams of carers, find them deeply frustrated by the problems with our social care system. Different levels of funding are available depending on your need but, I am told, that the way the government’s formula works, your health has to deteriorate to keep the same level of funding you enjoyed previously. That can’t be right - and too often it is then the family that is left to make up the difference. A number of constituents have come to me for help with this problem, some having to face up to selling homes to pay the bills. The government has just spent 18 months consulting on social care and is now consulting again despite the fact Tony Blair said he would do something about it in 1997. Their proposal to require everyone to pay £20,000 on retirement to pay for their care seems expensive and ill thought through.

Higher Education

Education is the route to opportunity. But it is the right education which will unlock the right opportunities. While the government wants to see 50% of young people going to university, that only makes sense if it helps them get a foot on the career ladder. On the doorstep I very often find young people feeling totally let down by that promise. One young lad, recently graduated and married was working as a postman for the Post Office – they were lucky to have him. But his ambitions had been higher and he now has to repay a huge student loan to boot. What we need is a greater variety of higher education and better and earlier careers advice.

This government has failed on skills: the number of young people not in education, employment or training has risen, and the number of real apprenticeships, further education enrolments and adult learners are down. I would like to see a massive expansion in the provision of real apprenticeships – thousands more every year with real financial support for companies operating apprenticeship schemes would make a big difference. This would benefit businesses like Centrax our flagship engineering business, Imerys one of our leading extraction operators, and Andrew Hill our leading hairdresser in the South West.

STOP PRESS:

We have a public meeting on Friday 16th October with Mark Prisk MP, Shadow Spokesman for Business and Enterprise at The Langstone Cliff Hotel, Dawlish Warren at 5.30pm. Mark would very much like to hear about your local business issues and what you would like to see from an incoming Conservative Government. Please call me on 01626 368277 or e mail me for details. I look forward to seeing you there.