Newham Council Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission

 

At start of @NewhamLondon Health & Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission in #EastHam Town Hall. On hottest day of year.... We lost all those joining virtually due to sound issue but rest of scrutiny was positive and pretty constructive.

Planning for health provision with a growing population (which may be changed by new Government planning and housing policies?) and Leisure services. I believe it is available on YouTube to watch.

NEWHAM COUNCIL ADOPTS DENTAL MOTION

 

Hat tip my Newham Councillor colleague Susan Masters.

Tonight (Monday) at Newham's Full Council, with the support of my colleague John Gray I finally saw my motion addressing Newham's Dental Crisis adopted by Council.
Given this non-contentious motion was first tabled for council by Newham's Labour Group, over a year ago, it feels like it's been one hell of a long journey. While it was disappointing, after time running out on so many previous occasions, not to finally get to address my colleagues, it was a relief to see it pass on a unanimous, cross-party vote.

So how much has changed in the interim? Well from our local health scrutiny committee first exploring this issue in 2023 under a Tory Govt, to it being front and centre of our new Labour manifesto, it's been fantastic seeing it coming up the political agenda.

While it does feel like things have improved since commissioning moved to Integrated Care System level just over a year ago, our commission are still hearing of residents struggling to get a routine appointment without a three month wait, let alone emergency dentistry, I hope my motion will raise awareness of the issues, add weight to work addressing the problem and encourage others to lobby for a change to the dental contract to ensure better NHS access.

Newham Dental Crisis

Proposer: Councillor Susan Masters
Seconder: Councillor John Gray

-Tooth decay is the main cause of hospital admissions for 5-9 year olds in England
-In 2019 Newham was the London Borough with the fourth highest levels of tooth
decay among 5 year olds
-Poor oral health has been recognised as a trigger for diabetes, heart attacks and
strokes among adults
-Healthwatch – the statutory borough body commissioned to oversee the quality of
local services on behalf of residents - has been reporting a marked deterioration in
access to NHS local dental services since 2017, predating the pandemic
-In 2023 When Newham Council’s Health And Adult Social Care Scrutiny devoted a session
to paucity of local NHS dental care, a quick use of a new search engine revealed that
of 29 Newham dentists thrown up by the official NHS search engine, only 2 were
accepting new adult patients and 3 patients of all ages
-Other residents are finding that they are being told that the only way to access a
dentist at their practise is to sign up to an insurance scheme
-Brexit has brought about a shortage in dental nurses meaning the issue is not just
about having access to more NHS dentists
- On April 1st this year our North East London Integrated Care System took
responsibility for commissioning local dentistry services alongside optometry and
community pharmacy

Given the importance of receiving good dental treatment and the levels of financial
need in our borough, it’s clear our residents require strong NHS provision of dental
services

This Council resolves to:

-Use its presence within our local North East London integrated care system to force
an increase in the number of units of dental activity available to our borough and
ensure this shortfall is prioritised.
- Use its Health and Care Space Newham estate partnership to prioritise the creation
of new NHS dental surgeries and draw dentists and nurses into the borough
- Use LBN's estate powers to incentivise greater NHS dentistry provision where
possible to promote dental nursing roles to its schools and colleges of further
education.
-Explore the legality of and Lobby against dentists insisting patients sign up to
insurance schemes.
-Work with the LGA and campaign politically to oppose insurance schemes being
forced upon patients.

West Hammers help out in East Ham Central By Election

Yesterday evening I went out on the Labour doorstep with our West Ham MP, Lyn Brown and Cara (the infamous Labour attack dog) to support Farah Nazeer, our Labour candidate in East Ham Central by election on Thursday May 6 (and our London Mayoral Candidate, Sadiq Khan and local East London Assembly member, Unmesh Desai).

We joined local Councillors Susan Masters and Alan Griffiths (Agent). Despite a mixture of sunshine and showers the canvass went really well with pretty extraordinary high levels of Labour support. 

We also came across some beautiful urban gardens. 

Using the Labour Party mobile "doorstep" appears to work really well. No more soggy paper canvass sheets to try and fill out in the rain. 

#Our Day - Celebrate Local Government in Newham

Today we celebrate Local Government in Newham and elsewhere. The collage above recognises what Newham Council workers deliver for our residents. day in and day out. The list is pretty endless. Councils and Councillors were encourage to tweet on their day.

Newham Council provides lollipop crossing attendants, building control, electoral registration, adult & youth social services, security, sheltered accommodation, housing officers, highways, homelessness, enforcement, youth provision, private rental licences enforcement, parking, parks, planning, mortuary, highways, play grounds, libraries, leisure centres, council repairs, homelessness, refuse, recycling, city farms, support to schools, teaching assistants and many, many other services

Below are my tweets from today:-

Today is #localgov day. I will try and tweet what I do today as a #Councillor & @NewhamLondon
Cabinet member. Just finished a meeting with #GLA officers & Mayor @rokhsanafiaz
on #RoughSleeping #CouncilsCan

By coincidence my next meeting was a presentation to members of #Newham Homelessness Action Group on the new @NewhamLondon  Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy. The room was overflowing & there was a robust but constructive Q&A. @CllrShaban @NewhamSue Co-Chaired with Tony Lewis #OurDay #CouncilsCan

Finished a regular monthly briefing with @newhamlondon  officer on possible property acquisitions using Right to Buy receipts & Housing Revenue account borrowing. We have a desperate need for new homes in Newham & temporary accommodation with @CllrShaban  #MyDay #CouncilsCan #lga


Next was another briefing with @NewhamLondon  housing managers on temporary accommodation provision #MyDay #CouncilsCan #LGA On way home now to do some #GeneralElection2019

agent stuff. Just sent off last email to our @NewhamLondon  pension officers about an appalling email from one of our Pension Fund managers about an #ESG issue #OurDay #CouncilsCan #lgps #LGA

West Ham Labour campaigning for London Mayor, Sadiq Khan & getting ready for the next General Election

A busy long weekend delivering leaflets in various parts of the borough for the re-election of Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan in May next year and promoting Labour to our residents.

Saturday and Sunday in West Ham ward with activists and with local Cllr John Whitworth & Cllr Charlene McLean. We are also had a young pioneer with us and a ringer from East Ham, Cllr Susan Masters, who had been attending a "Save NHS" meeting nearby.

On Sunday afternoon I went out with a team led by our MP, Lyn Brown to Canning Town North. Afterwards we had a drink in Cody Docks and watched a marvellous sunset.

This morning I was in my home ward, Forest Gate North, with Gill delivering to local streets including the address of a recent former leader of UKIP, who would not appreciated the front page of Sadiq's newsletter (top left).

Sri Lanka - United We Stand

"This morning we supported a community vigil on the steps of Newham Town Hall to remember those killed in the Sri Lanka terror attacks and show united we stand with Sri Lanka and all those affected.

The vigil was followed by a silent walk to St Michael’s Church, East Ham for an inter-faith service". Hat tip Newham Council. 

"Never Commit, Excuse or Remain Silent About Male Violence"

"Newham residents are being urged to wear orange and make a pledge to stand up to violence against women and girls as part of the UN’S 16 Days of Activism, an international campaign against domestic violence.​

Newham Council is supporting the campaign to raise awareness of the issue, which began on the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November and ends on Human Rights Day on 10 December.

To support the campaign, Newham Council is hosting free events in partnership with local community groups to promote the support available, as well as share experiences and send a clear message of zero tolerance towards domestic and sexual violence (DSV) in Newham. Events include a poetry reading and a workshop around healthy relationships.

Councillor Susan Masters, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “Domestic violence can take many different forms including psychological, physical, sexual and emotional abuse. It is essential that the council and members of the public are vigilant to the signs so anyone who may be experiencing it gets the help they need.

“Survivors of domestic and sexual violence need to feel supported and empowered so they can seek the help they need to escape from an abusive relationship. We have a range of services which can help but we need to also raise awareness of the problem. Newham Council has a zero tolerance to any form of gender based violence. We want to send out a message that domestic violence will not be accepted in Newham.”

During the 16 campaign, Newham residents will share photos of themselves on social media using the hashtag #Hearmetoo and pledge never to condone, commit, excuse or stay silent about violence against women and urging others to make the same pledge. At Full Council on Monday, councillors made the pledge.

Anyone experiencing domestic or sexual violence should contact the Newham One Stop Shop 24 hour line on 0845 451 2547 or visit www.newham.gov.uk/dsv​ for information on the range of support services available".

Newham Councillors standing in solidarity before full Council Meeting on Monday 

Hat tip Newham website 

UNISON Welfare Trustee Board and UNISON Staff Pension Trustee Board meetings

I am back home after a couple of busy days in my role as a UNISON National Executive Committee (NEC) appointed Trustee. 

On Tuesday I travelled up to Grantham in Lincolnshire to a meeting of the UNISON Welfare Trustee Board. This board is a mix of regional elected reps and NEC members. We have our own UNISON Charity for members who are in crisis called "There for you". Local branches and regions raise funds for our charity and it is heavily supported by our National Union. There is a proud tradition in our Labour Movement of working class people organising and looking after their own. 

The reason we met in Grantham is because it is the headquarters of our Debtline service for members (Provider "PayPlan" in top picture). We had a number of very good presentations including one on their "talk about debt" campaign. 

(On Tuesday evening as a Newham Cabinet lead I appeared before a Council Scrutiny Committee on Homelessness with Cllr Susan Masters, officers and the Housing Charity Shelter, which I think went well and was really constructive.) 

On Wednesday morning I gave a NEC report and took questions at the meeting of the UNISON Community Service Group Executive (will post further). 

I then took the train to Birmingham for a 2 day board meeting and training of the UNISON Staff Pension Trustees (see bottom picture of meal out yesterday with fellow trustees, UNISON officers and advisors). 

Our Staff Pension scheme is, as you can imagine, a decent pension scheme but not as good as the Local Government or NHS scheme. 

The meeting was pretty "heavy duty" on pension funding, equity protection and investment strategy but there was also a very interesting and even provocative training on the dangers of "Group Think" at all forms of trustee meetings. 

A day in the life - Thursday 27 September 2018

This is one day in my life as a Newham Council Cabinet member, which was particularly busy but pretty much reflects what all Newham Cabinet members experience on a regular basis. Compared to the Mayor's normal diary, it was probably a walk in the park.

I came back late on Wednesday evening from Labour Party conference in Liverpool. 9am on Thursday, I had my first meeting in Newham Dockside, chairing a working group of Council Officers on the future of Community Spaces (Centres) in the borough. A very difficult issue but the meeting (I felt) went really well and was positive and constructive.

Next I had to rush off to chair a UNISON London regional forum on the Local Government Pension Fund in central London. I had doubled booked myself so was a little late. In the afternoon I attended a fascinating meeting of the Newham Homeless Forum in Anchor House with Cllr Susan Masters, followed by a tour of the marvellous new register office at East Ham Town Hall. I then went across the road for a meet with Newham College of Further Education heads.

After that I had a surgery in my ward in the tenants and residents room in Brassett Point. Finishing with a meeting of Audit Committee in East Town Hall which ended around 9pm. (Followed by a short recovery drink in the Red Lion).

Hope this doesn't seem like gloating "look how busy I am" or "pity me". I am really enjoying the challenge because I am convinced that we (all Labour Councillors and the Mayor) will make a big difference for the better to the lives of our residents.

Sunday Night Live "21st Century NHS - a state of perpetual upheaval and crisis. Where now for the health service?"

Pictures from last weekends "Sunday Night Live" at Stratford Picture House, E15.  The debate was about the crisis in the NHS.

West Hammer Neil Wilson chaired. There was two guest speakers, Nigel Keohane, from the Social Market Foundation and Jos Bell, Socialist Health Alliance. Each speaker had 12 minutes to speak then Q&A. 

Jos Bell spoke first about the present crisis in the NHS and how we used to have the best NHS in the world (pre 2010) and the 3rd most efficient. Now we have Accident and Emergency departments "stuffed to the gunnels", hospital closures, ambulance services forced to recruit from Australia and New Zealand, while at the same time, 20% of junior doctors are thinking leaving the NHS and working in New Zealand.

NHS staff can't afford to live in London while social care funding has almost disappeared

Nigel Keohane spoke next and firstly explained he was not a "Labour person".  He quoted Nye Bevan and then Tory Minister, Lord Lawson, on how NHS  is the "closest thing the English have to a religion". 

While he recognised that there was indeed a crisis in the NHS and it was especially failing to deliver for those who need social care such as those with dementia, he is "pro market" and saw nothing wrong with private companies providing NHS services. 

He believes that this could be proved if the best performing hospitals were handed over to the private sector to manage rather than what has happened in the past, when failing hospitals have been given to private companies who in turn have also failed. 

Nigel thinks there is only 3 possible solutions to the funding crisis in the NHS - either everyone should pay an extra 3p in income tax;  or a one off levy on richer older people or introduce means tested charging for NHS and social care. 

This sparked a passionate but civilised debate in the Q&A. Some of the audience were NHS staff who criticised Nigel for his support of privatisation and charging. However, there was support for his suggestions from some who criticised free NHS services as being a subsidy for the rich by the poor. 

I suggested to Nigel that while the market is very good at certain things such as making cars, it is not good at providing or charging for health services, since the profit motive subverts services and it is expensive, bureaucratic, demeaning and inefficient to means test. Nigel replied by saying there is no evidence that the private sector is less efficient than the public sector.

There was an interesting discussion on PFI (Private Finance Initiative) funding for hospitals. Jos pointed out that it was a myth that Labour started PFI when it began under the Tories while John Major was prime minister.  Also that some of the later deals were actually not that bad value. Lewisham Hospital PFI was okay but Barts PFI was obviously not. 

Local Labour stalwart, John Saunders, praised the NHS but pointed out the failure of social care especially for the elderly.

It was an excellent debate and we soon ran out of time but continued the arguments in the bar afterwards.

Next "Sunday Night Live" is due on 13th December which will be on Syria. Details to follow.

"Sunday Night Live" is a series of friendly monthly conversations and debates for Labour Party members and supporters. Many thanks to the organising panel and especially Susan Masters and Rokhsana Fiaz (hat tip to them for many of photos in collage as well)

Sunday Night Live - 5.00pm, 29th November: The NHS - in a state of perpetual upheaval and crisis? Where now for the Health Service

"Whether they have billions to invest or need to dramatically cut budgets, few British governments have resisted imposing their own blueprint for reform on the NHS, with the consequence that in the past two decades health service staff have had to endure almost endless upheaval

With 98 percent of junior doctors voting for strike action; the Labour leader’s recent warnings of another NHS winter crisis; and hospital waiting lists and financial deficits rising, what guarantees will be unveiled in Osborne’s forthcoming Autumn Statement that the NHS will be protected?

This NHS special Sunday Night Live session will explore the challenges the health service is currently facing, including:

· The problems caused by various reformist agendas;

· Implications of nursing shortages, spiraling agency staff costs, strikes by junior doctors, pressures on A&E clinics and hospitals; and existing PFI commitments;

· The impact of an ageing population and increasing social care demands on hard-hit local authorities.

Join us over at the Stratford Picture House bar (Salway Rd, London E15 1BX: http://tinyurl.com/ntmwysz) to discuss these and other associated issues with our two guest speakers:

Jos Bell is the Chair of the London Branch of the Socialist Health Association. She is an author, NHS campaigner and disability spokesperson. She writes for a number of publications on health policy and the NHS, disability rights and welfare reform. For more see: https://www.opendemocracy.net/author/jos-bell

Nigel Keohane is the Deputy Director and Director of Research at the Social Market Foundation. Nigel oversees the SMF’s research programme and leads the work on public service reform and commissioning, welfare reform and low pay, and pensions and savings. Prior to the SMF, Nigel was Head of Research at the New Local Government Network think tank, worked in local government and taught history at Queen Mary College, University of London. He has a BA and MA in history from Exeter University, and a PhD in Political History from Queen Mary. For more see: http://www.smf.co.uk/publication-author/nigel-keohane/

IT'S FREE ENTRY - SIGN UP VIA EVENTBRITE: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/21st-century-nhs-in-a-state-of-perpetual-upheaval-and-crisis-tickets-19615446328.

("Sunday Night Live" is a series of friendly monthly conversations and debates for Labour Party members and supporters)