Sheffield Darnall Local Election 2010 Health Issues Debate
ElectionOracle / UK General Election May 02, 2010 - 03:51 AM GMTBy: N_Walayat
All of the candidates of the main parties standing for the Darnall Local Election and the Parliamentary election for the Sheffield South East constituency which includes Darnall were invited to comment on the poor quality of local health service delivery for the people of Darnall as evidenced by the Department of Health funded UK GP Patient Survey that firmly ranks Darnall GP Surgery at the bottom of Sheffield's 91 GP Surgeries as illustrated by the below table that measures overall patient satisfaction:
Sheffield's Bottom 5 GP Surgeries
| HAROLD STREET MEDICAL CENTRE | 80% |
| STONECROFT MEDICAL CENTRE | 79% |
| HIGHGATE SURGERY | 75% |
| DARNALL HEALTH CENTRE (MEHROTRA) | 70% |
| DARNALL COMMUNITY HEALTH | 70% |
As the table suggests, 30% of Darnall Community Health's patients are dissatisfied with the quality of health care received, this amounts to at an estimated 7,000+ patients! Which given that winning councilors in the ward typically poll in the region of 2,200 votes does represent an extremely important election impacting issue for at least in terms of City Council seats. In this respect all councilors and parliamentary candidates were asked for their opinions on this important issue. Full table for all 91 Sheffield GP Surgeries at the end of this article.
Sheffield Healthcare Debate Response from Politicians
LABOUR
Mary Lea - Sitting Councillor Replying on Behalf of Mazher Iqbal
We know about the survey and it wasn't very good. We plan to form a steering group when work starts on the new health centre, working throughout the building phase and beyond. We will include people from the different sections of the community. Some of the issues highlighted will be addressed.
We also had them to a assembly/tinsley forum meeting to account for some of the issues.
We are also looking at access to gp services in scrutiny at present and will be making recommendations about access across the city including darnall.
Clive Betts MP - Standing for the Sheffield South East Constituency
All of us have been concerned in recent years about the poor state of some of the GP practice buildings. We supported the temporary move of the Prince of Wales practice from the appalling premises near Davy's.
We have also argued long and hard for investment from the lift Project which will now fund a brand new Health Centre on Main Rd. The siting and content of the centre has been discussed in depth with the Darnall Forum and the local community.. We are however disappointed that not all the local practices are prepared to join the new centre. The funding of this investment is down to the committment a Labour Government has made to investment in the NHS.
I'm sure that the level of patient satisfaction will rise once the centre opens. It will be important to monitor this.
LIBERAL DEMOCRACTS
Misbah Chowdhury - Standing for election
Has failed to respond.
Gail Smith - Standing for the Sheffield South East Constituency
Has failed to respond.
CONSERVATIVES
Margaret Elizabeth Pigott - Standing for election
Has failed to respond.
Nigel Bonson - Standing for the Sheffield South East Constituency
I am indeed aware of this huge issue along with the even more alarming statistics in relation to life expectancy and various other health indicators. On Monday evening I took part in a 'Question Time' event with representatives of other parties in the city centre. It was organised by Dr Jack Czauderna, Chair of the Darnall Wellbeing Group. The subject was 'inequality'.
I could of course write reams here about Conservative Party policies and how I believe they will help and I will touch on some. I guess the most important fact is that we will ring-fence the NHS budget and have committed ourselves to increase it in real terms year on year. Of course that's very well but it's how that is spent that affects the people of Darnall and how it targets the inequalities you raise.Certainly government policy alone, whatever the government, is not going to solve the problem. It demands local action form all agencies together with the community.We are determined though to ensure that money that is dedicated to a particular need actually gets there. This is not happening well at the moment.
More helpful here perhaps is to explain a little about myself and how, if elected, I would approach this. I have been a police officer for 30 years, working in many tough areas, for instance in inner-city Salford. As a community officer in different ranks I had a reputation as someone who cared, would go the extra mile and actually make a difference. I have always worked in Labour heartland areas and am campaigning, clearly on Conservative Policies, but as someone who understands community and individual problems, listens and solves problems (not that I'm suggesting I can solve the health and healthcare problems of Darnall on my own with that simple formula!) .
Again as a police officer, but also in the 5 years since, I have specialised in regeneration, working within local, regional and central government. Although a crime specialist, I have had to understand health, education, employment, poverty, housing and environmental issues. I'm sure I don't need to persuade you that these are all inter-related and very complex but all clearly affect each other and to address the health problems of Darnall needs so much more than improving satisfaction rates at health centres, important so that is. I am sure there are many dedicated and professional staff both in the centres and working in the community who are desperate for more freedom to get on with the job they are passionate about. Indeed, they may hold many of the answers.
Developing, working with, supporting and encouraging the right people to work together in partnership is what I do 'as a day job' in disadvantaged areas around the country. I want to do the same in Darnall but as your MP. Poor public health is the result of the built and social environment and to have meaningful impact, a package of complimentary measures is essential. To develop such a package, professionals must listen to the people (something I don't find this local authority to be very good at). It also of course demands a response from the public.
I'm sorry this needs to be a little brief but I hope it just helps give you an idea of 'where I come from'. I'm trying to balance the time I spend at my desk with the time I'm out meeting people in these last few days of the campaign (and I don't enjoy the huge team around me that some others do!). However, this matter is a priority and please come back to me with questions about specific policies. Of particular interest might be our plan to increase the number of health visitors however that is, of course, just one small element of what is needed.
UK IP
Charlotte Elizabeth Arnott - Standing for election
Has failed to respond.
CONCLUSION
Labour MP and Councillors along with the Conservative Parliamentary candidate have shown a willingness to engage in one of the primary social issues that is at the forefront of the people of Darnall during this election campaign. The Liberal Democrats that purport to want to represent the people of Darnall have failed to show any interest in this issue.
Results For All 91 Sheffield GP Surgeries Ranked in Order of Patient Overall Satisfaction of Care Received
Data Source - http://results.gp-patient.co.uk/report/main.aspx
Source: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article19117.html
By Nadeem Walayat
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