Lib Dems call for end charges for long term medical conditions

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The Oldham Liberal Democrat Group will be proposing a motion to Oldham council on Wednesday 15th July 2015 supporting the call of the Prescription Charges Coalition that Government end prescription charges for patients in England with long term medical conditions.

The motion is proposed by Saddleworth North Cllr Garth Harkness, Shadow Cabinet member for Education and Skills. Cllr Harkness said:

“Many people with long term medical conditions do not qualify for free prescriptions and struggle to pay for regular treatment. Around a third of people are choosing not to collect prescriptions because of the cost. Consequently, some of these patients fall ill and are admitted to hospital. Ultimately hospital admissions and treatment cost the tax payer far more.”

Seconding the motion, Julia Turner, Councillor for Crompton and Shadow Cabinet member for Performance and Corporate Governance, said:

“Some conditions get a medical exempt certificate, which is exactly right, but equally many other potentially debilitating medical conditions are not exempt and are subject to the £8.20 charge per item. Even with pre-payment cards you are looking at over £100 per year and many people round here simply do not have this to spare and choose to go without”.

Councillor Harkness added “We think there should be equality in healthcare. In government we fought to get mental health on a level playing field with other conditions. We want to ensure that people with all long term medical conditions get the medication they need wherever they live in the UK

“In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, residents receive free prescriptions; yet in England, we have patients with identical medical conditions who have to cut pills up to save money or go without altogether and that can’t be right. We should not be subject to a lottery where you only receive free medication based on where you live or which long term medical condition you have. Everyone who needs treatment should receive it. “

 

Lib Dem call for Community Shop to be discussed

shop front colourThe Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed the report on Community Shop that will be presented to Oldham Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board next Tuesday (14th July).

Cllr Sykes wrote to Community Shop in December last year inviting them to work with him to establish an outlet in Oldham. After visiting the flagship store and the parent Company Shop in Barnsley in February, he called upon the Council Leader Cllr McMahon to “find the site and find the money” to bring the concept to the Borough as soon as is practicable.

Community Shop operates community supermarkets selling low-cost, high-quality surplus foodstuffs to people on means-tested benefits, backed by services to help them get back into work. Company Shop sources the food and provides logistical support.

Each shop works on a membership basis and can shop for food at prices 70 per cent lower than usual and so members can feed their families well within a limited budget.

There is also an on-site café with good, wholesome food cooked by an on-site chef, who teaches customers how to cook as well.

But Cllr Sykes has another reason to wish to see Community Shop in Oldham.

He explained: “Community Shop is not just about food. Community Shop will enhance our Get Oldham Working offer and help more people from deprived communities find work.”

Members enrol on tailored programmes to improve their self-confidence and job prospects. Working with mentors and professionals from local agencies based at the store, members receive help to make positive improvements in their lives and move back into employment.

Report below:

Community Shop

Lib Dem Community Bank proposal to be considered

thCAGDS5F2The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has welcomed the tabling of a report to discuss his proposal that Oldham Council examines the merits of establishing a community bank for the Borough and for Greater Manchester.

In February, Cllr Sykes wrote to the Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Cllr Shoab Akhtar, asking the Labour Administration to consider the option.

Cllr Sykes said: “In Hampshire, a community bank is about to commence operations later this year. The bank is a partnership between Liberal Democrat run Eastleigh Borough Council and other social partners. It is based on a successful local banking system from Germany. The bank will support small and medium sized businesses to secure money for investment more quickly and at lower interest rates.”

“Such a bank would be a stimulant for local jobs and local businesses. As the emphasis is on lending locally, to green projects and recycling profits as a community windfall, there will also be improvements to our environment and benefits for local communities.”

The item will be discussed at the next meeting of Oldham Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Board on Tuesday 14th July.

Cllr Sykes added: “A community bank looks like a real winner to me, and would be another practical example of co-operative Oldham in action. This is another in a long line of initiatives the Liberal Democrat Group has proposed to help Get Oldham Working.”

Report is below:

Community Bank in Oldham

Lib Dem Leader “disappointed” at recent Universal Credit Ruling

benefit-changes-logo-rgb-b_v_Variation_1The Leader of the Opposition and of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Cllr Howard Sykes MBE, has expressed his disappointment that the new Tory Government has just decided that new claimants receiving Universal Credit should wait seven days for their benefits, rather than three.

Cllr Sykes said: “Last October, I wrote to the Secretary of the Social Security Advisory Committee, an important parliamentary body that advises the Government on social security matters, in response to a public consultation on the proposed change to a seven day wait.”

“In my letter, I repeated the objections I made when a seven day wait period was proposed for claimants of job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA). Unfortunately, despite most of the respondents to the latest consultation indicating that they too were opposed to the changes, the Secretary of State has just advised the Committee that he has still decided to go ahead anyway.”

Cllr Sykes said: “This latest proposal will have its greatest effect in Oldham.”

“Oldham was a pathfinder area for Universal Credit. We have almost 4,500 claimants, the largest number in the UK; and this figure is steadily increasing. New claimants will therefore continue to suffer financial loss as a result of these changes.”

“Many of these claimants are young adults under the age of 25. They are therefore unlikely to be entitled to redundancy payments if they are claiming after leaving employment. They may therefore have no immediate sources of ready cash to meet day to day needs and my primary concern is that these individuals will be forced to turn to ‘loan sharks’ to borrow money to survive or to food banks to eat.”

“These claimants will now have to wait seven days. The view of the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group is that if someone is unemployed they should be entitled to receive their benefits from day 1; no ifs, no buts.”

“It is also disappointing that whilst the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group raised objections to the proposal, the ruling Labour Administration did not.”

Slimmin’ Without Women

over_weight_measure_tape_waist_manStarting shortly – ‘Slimmin’ Without Women Programme’.

The group will be run by men for men aged 50+ who would never attend a mainstream slimming club or join a gym.

Any residents interested in the course can contact Dale Newton Age UK Health & Wellbeing Activity Co-ordinator on 07841 344 196 for more information.

All things green event 23 July, 11am – 2.30pm Shaw Lifelong Learning Centre, High St, Shaw

green_appleShaw Lifelong Learning Centre

23rd July, 11-2.30pm

A family friendly event raising awareness about what people can do to improve the environment, their lifestyle and health.

Activities include – an energy saving workshop giving simple tips on how to save energy & money, face painting, junk modelling for children, information on free or cheap things to do with children over the summer holidays, grow your own salad with Get Oldham Growing , the opportunity to meet community groups and more…

Don’t’ suffer in silence – report all hate crime

stop the hateReporting a Hate Crime

Don’t’ suffer in silence – report all hate crime

What is Hate Crime?

A Hate Crime is any behaviour that someone thinks was caused by hostility, prejudice or hatred of:

  • Disability (including physical impairments, Mental Health problems, learning disabilities, hearing and visual impairment)
  • Gender identity (people who are transgender, transsexual or transvestite)
  • Race, skin colour, nationality, ethnicity or heritage
  • Religion, faith or belief (including people without a religious belief)
  • Sexual Orientation (people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual)
  • Alternative Subculture/ Lifestyle (the way a person looks or dresses) – Groups that are described as subcultures often include punk rockers, ravers, metalheads, goths, emo and indie

There are lots of different types of Hate Crimes. These could include:

  • Physical attacks – such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson;
  • Threat of attack – including offensive letters, abusive or obscene telephone calls or text messages, groups hanging around to intimidate and unfounded, malicious complaints;
  • Verbal abuse or insults – offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, offensive comments and/or name calling, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes and bullying at school or in the workplace.

How do I report a Hate Crime?

Even if you are unsure you have been a victim of a Hate Crime it is important to speak to someone. You can report a Hate Crime to any of these agencies:

  • Emergency – In an emergency you should phone 999
  • Non – Emergency – You can phone Greater Manchester Police on 101 or you can go to any police station.

If you don’t want to call the Police or if you want extra support, you can call the Stop Hate Helpline.  The helpline is confidential and independent.

  • Stop Hate Helpline – you can phone 0800 138 1625 for the FREE confidential 24-hour hate crime reporting service.

Anyone can be a victim of Hate Crime or Incident

A victim is any person who lives, works or visits Oldham and is subjected to a hate motivated incident or crime. A victim is also someone who witnesses another person being subjected to a hate motivated incident or crime.

A perpetrator or offender is any person who commits acts of hatred against other people because of their race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, faith or religion, age, gender, sexuality or disability.

Why should you report Hate Crimes?

If you tell us what is happening, different agencies (such as the Police, Local Authority, charities and housing providers) can take action against the perpetrator and support victims and witnesses.

When you report Hate Crimes, you are making a bigger difference than you may think.

It helps you get support.  It helps us make your local area safer.

Most Hate Crimes are not reported. Your reports help us to understand how Hate Crime affects your community and then tackle the problem.