A very busy start to 2018 There are many pressing issues at the moment – the failure of TDC to pass the local plan, real concerns and frustration about litter, rubbish and dog mess (I think it’s driving everyone mad) and the constant threat of cuts to our services. The really central and dominating issue […]
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Gender pay gap was top of my agenda in 2004
Equal pay is a stubborn problem As the influential magazine ‘personnel today’ turns 30 years old, I’m reminded of my own input and fight to achieve equal pay for women workers, along with many others. I was the first national union officer to lead the change on closing the pay gap by calling for compulsory […]
Distain at KCC breastfeeding decision
Why, when figures for breastfeeding in the UK are the worst in the world are we cutting the breastfeeding support budget by £400,000, and reducing the service across Kent that is there to support breastfeeding mums. We know that the rate for breastfeeding in Kent is lower than the national average and is falling. It […]
Seeing Red: Aftermath of the Local Plan vote
As an elected Labour County Councillor for Ramsgate I am privileged to have a column in The Isle of Thanet News.
QEQM stroke services demo draws great response
The demonstration organised by Save Our NHS in Kent (SONiK) on February 3rd was a great success. Much media coverage before and after the event has raised the profile of the campaign to save the stroke service at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM). I’ve posted some of this below. Currently in consultation, the […]
Craig Mackinlay backs plans to close NHS stroke service in Margate
I have been on BBC Radio Kent this morning ahead of today’s demonstration at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM). Once again, Craig Mackinlay accuses us of making political milage out of a threat to NHS services. This is political! The austerity measures of Craig’s government are putting people’s lives at risk. Closing the […]
Stroke Units in Kent – Our questions need answers
Many of us are now aware of the threat of closure of emergency stroke services at QEQM Hospital in Margate. A plan is on the table to rationalise the service and cut the number of stroke units in Kent from seven to three. The implication for residents in Thanet is that our nearest unit will […]
Thanet’s NHS surgeries shake up will hit us all
It seems an advanced plans for a massive shake up of General Practice’s surgeries (GPs) and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) services is well underway. Here is my take on the plans and impact, but nothing is yet in the open so I am surmising a likely direction of travel and outcomes based […]
Thanet tops child poverty table
Thanet has the highest rate of child poverty in Kent and the south east, with around 10,500 children affected according to a survey by End Child Poverty. This is utterly repugnant to me and should be to all Thanet’s residents. All children should have an equal chance. Child poverty scars and hurts for life. As […]
Tories scupper Thanet’s Local Plan over Manston
Thanet’s Labour councillors have spoken with one voice to alert local residents to the dire consequences of the failure to pass the Local Plan. After the Thanet Local Plan was rejected by 35 votes to 20 on Thursday 18th January our council is now in a state of crisis. Conservative, UKIP and independent district councillors […]