Liberal Democrats call for two-month cancer guarantee as over 1,000 people in Oldham wait more than 62 days for treatment

The Liberal Democrats have called for a new legal right for cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral, as part of a plan to boost survival rates and improve treatment for those affected by the disease.

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “Everyone knows someone whose life has been turned upside down by cancer.  Too many people are still waiting, far too long for a diagnosis, or to start treatment after being diagnosed. We must do right by them and get them the care they need when they need it.”

The latest NHS figures show that, in the last year under Northern Care Alliance Trust (NCA) which covers Oldham, 1,049 cancer patients waited more than 62 days to start treatment after being referred.  Only 48% of NCA patients were treated within two months, below the government target of 85%.

Councillor Sykes said, “Every time a patient has to wait for treatment it is agonising, not just for them but for loved ones as well.  This is the reality for more than half of cancer patients across Oldham right now and it just isn’t good enough.”  

“The Liberal Democrat plan includes new radiotherapy machines, cutting the time for new medicines to reach patients, a new cancer research law, and better support for cancer patients and their families.  We would give cancer patients a new legal right to treatment within two months of an urgent referral, to make sure they get the care they deserve.”

“This forms part of our ambitious plan to end unacceptable cancer delays and boost survival rates.”

NOTES

NHS statistics on cancer waiting times are available here. 
More from councillor Sykes on cancer waiting times More than 900 people in served by the Northern Care Alliance (which includes Oldham) left waiting more than two months to start cancer treatment – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Changes to popular service before move to a new home

There will be temporary changes to our Local Studies and Archives Service this winter, as the service prepares to move to its new home in the redeveloped Spindles centre.

The current base at 84 Union Street will close to the public on 30 November 2023. A new temporary home for the service will then open in March 2024 within Oldham Library, prior to the move to Spindles when the new permanent archives centre is created in 2025.

Moving to a new site is a huge task and the council will have to reduce some of its archive services until this work is done.

Users of all Oldham libraries will still be able to enjoy free access to family history websites, including Ancestry and FindMyPast, as well as to census information from 1841 to 1921 online on our public computers.

From March 2024 the council will be able to offer the popular Local Studies service in the main library, with access to newspapers on microfilm and a fantastic range of local history publications.

For more information click here 

Willow planting at the wetland area Great Meadow.

SATURDAY 7^TH OF OCTOBER MEET IN BRUSHES CLOUGH CAR PARK FOR A 10:30AM START.

Liberal Democrats commit to ‘triple-lock’ to protect pensioners in Oldham

Following their national party conference, The Liberal Democrats have announced plans to protect pensioners against the cost-of-living crisis.  The party has committed to the ‘triple-lock’, which ensures that pensions increase in line with inflation, wages or 2.5% – whichever is highest.   

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE, who attended the conference, said, “Our triple-lock pension plan is needed now more than ever.  Pensioners are particularly vulnerable to the cost-of-living crisis because their fixed incomes can be eaten away by inflation.  We can’t let runaway inflation caused by the carelessness of this government destroy people’s livelihoods in old age.”

Figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats show that almost 55,000 pensioners could benefit across Oldham Borough. 

Councillor Sykes said, “The Liberal Democrats are the only party standing up for the triple-lock on state pensions.  Many pensioners across our communities are already worried sick about the cost of heating and eating.  The Conservatives and Labour are now eyeing up their pension pots too.  Why should pensioners pay the price for the damage the government has done to the nation’s finances?”     

NOTES

Data on the number of pensioners in each constituency can be found here.  Oldham Borough is comprised of two whole parliamentary constituencies – ‘Oldham East and Saddleworth’ and ‘Oldham West and Royton’ – as well roughly one third of the Ashton Under-Lyne constituency.

For the purpose of translating House of Commons Library data into figures for the metropolitan borough of Oldham as a whole, the Liberal Democrats take the combined figures for ‘Oldham East and Saddleworth’ and ‘Oldham West and Royton’ combine them with one third of Ashton-Under-Lyne’s total.  This gives an approximate figure for the borough – where only Parliamentary data is available.  

A half-thought through list of stations that will be 10 minutes nearer to Manchester is no substitute for a high quality rail infrastructure, after Rishi Sunak has crumbled in the face of years of Conservative mismanagement and scrapped the Tories headline HS2 project.

The scrapping of the project will have massive implications for Saddleworth, with the East–West Northern Powerhouse line dependent on HS2 infrastructure being constructed. With Bradford apparently now listed as being one of the stations getting works, local Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani has questioned what this means for the high speed line which was scheduled to run through Saddleworth.

He said: “Rishi Sunak seems to have just thrown a large shopping list of projects up in the air and named a few, with no thought or consideration as to how they actually fit together.

“We have been desperate for clarity on the Northern Powerhouse line, which is threatening to bulldoze through Saddleworth, and push all the local services out of the way. Does this mean that they have reverted to their original plans to build a line through Bradford? Who knows!

“The Government seem to be playing the hokey cokey with huge multi-billion projects. You put Euston in, you take Manchester out … all we know for certain is that it has completely shaken private investors’ confidence in the North West.”

End of the line for levelling-up promise as Prime Minister set to abandon HS2 

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE has responded to the news that HS2’s Manchester leg is set to be scrapped by the Prime Minister later today.   

The Shaw councillor, who is the Liberal Democrats spokesperson on Greater Manchester’s Transport, branded the move “a betrayal”.

Councillor Sykes said, “After all the empty talk we’ve heard from this government about levelling up, this latest betrayal over HS2 shows what they really think of Greater Manchester.  As always, the Conservatives have no ambition for the north of England, their levelling-up promise has come to nothing.  They continue to treat us as second class when it comes to investing in transport.” 

NOTES

Yes or No Prime Minister: Sykes slams Sunak on HS2 betrayal
“Yes or no, Prime Minister”: Liberal Democrats slam Sunak on HS2 “betrayal” – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

More from councillor Sykes on transport investment
So called investment in the North’s rail network – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)Conservative government sends Northern rail plans into buffers – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Pop along for advice, help or to discuss any issue or matter with your local Liberal Democrat councillors.

Shaw and Crompton Advice Surgeries (no appointment necessary) held on the following Thursdays at Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre – 7:30pm to 8:30pm.

October: 5, 12, 19, and 26.

“Yes or no, Prime Minister”: Liberal Democrats slam Sunak on HS2 “betrayal”

Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader and GM Transport spokesperson councillor Howard Sykes MBE has slammed Rishi Sunak after the Prime Minister refused to give a straight answer over the future of Manchester’s long awaited Hight-Speed Rail project (HS2). 

The Conservative Prime Minister was quizzed on BBC Radio Manchester this week  (Thurs 28/09) following weeks of speculation and rumours that he may scrap the Manchester leg of HS2 all together. 

Councillor Sykes said, “Sunak is trying to quietly abandon HS2.  Despite all his empty words on levelling up, the north is always treated as second-class when it comes to transport investment.”

“Earlier this year the government announced £72 million for rail projects in Greater Manchester.  That’s less than half a percent of the total budget that was spent on London’s Cross Rail.” 

“Now we’re being left in limbo by Rishi Sunak over the future of HS2 and potentially another betrayal of his levelling-up promise.  It’s a very simple question.  Is the Manchester leg of HS2 going ahead? Yes or no, Prime Minister?”       

NOTES:

More from councillor Sykes on transport investment
So called investment in the North’s rail network – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Conservative government sends Northern rail plans into buffers – Howard Sykes (mycouncillor.org.uk)

Liberal Democrats write to council chief over equal pay concerns   

Following the concerning recent news about Birmingham City Council – which faces government intervention following financial difficulties relating to ‘Equal Pay’ policy – Liberal Democrat councillors have written to Oldham Council Chief Executive Harry Catherall seeking an update on Oldham’s financial position.

In a letter to Mr Catherall, Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Howard Sykes MBE said, “You will be aware of reports that at least 26 English councils are at serious financial risk.  Most recently, Birmingham City Council have issued a section 114 notice (meaning a council cannot authorise any further spending), with ‘Equal Pay’ disputes cited amongst the reasons for failure.”

“I therefore write to ask for an update on Oldham’s current financial position, especially as relates to the issues that surround Equal Pay, its impact on council finances; and the pressures facing the care sector.”

Councils across the country face mounting financial pressure, with research conducted by the Special Interest Group for Municipal Authorities (Sigoma) indicating that at least 26 English councils are at serious risk of following Birmingham into financial special measures. 

Inflationary pressures and related pay rises, as well as rising demands across the care sector are continually cited as prominent contributing factors by councils who are at high risk. 

Councillor Sykes said, “After a decade and a half of cutbacks, councils have been forced to outsource many vital services to contractors.  We need to be sure that Oldham is not left vulnerable to any financial liabilities our partner organisations might have incurred, whether it is in relation to equal pay disputes, as was the case in Birmingham, or anything else that represents a risk.”

NOTES

21 Sept 23
Harry Catherall
Chief Executive of Oldham Council

Dear Mr Catherall, 

RE: Oldham’s financial position relating to Equal Pay

No doubt you will share my alarm when reading the of the financial difficulties faced by so many local authorities over recent months.  It is no exaggeration to say that local government faces an unprecedented period of financial uncertainty and instability born of more than a decade of cuts to local authority budgets.

You will be aware of reports that at least 26 English councils are at serious financial risk.  Most recently, Birmingham City Council have issued a section 114 notice, with ‘Equal Pay’ disputes cited amongst the reasons for failure. 

Research conducted by the Special Interest Group for Municipal Authorities (Sigoma) has indicated a growing risk posed financial pressures across local government.  Inflationary pressures and related pay rises, as well as rising demands across the care sector are continually cited as prominent contributing factors by councils who are at high risk.  

I therefore write to ask for an update on Oldham’s current financial position, especially as relates to the issues that surround Equal Pay, its impact on council finances; and the pressures facing the care sector. 

It would be helpful if you could address the following points in your reply:

1. What is Oldham’s current position relating to Equal Pay Policy? 
2. Are there any historic ‘Equal Pay’ settlements outstanding that may present an issue to the council’s financial standing?
3. Is there any risk of ‘Equal Pay claims’ specifically regarding Miocare?

4. Are there any financial risks posed to Oldham through dealings with any of our social care and other service providers (OCL and alike) in relation to ‘Equal Pay’ policy.        
   
   

I thank you in advance for your considered response.

Best wishes,

Councillor Howard Sykes MBE