A Community in Alarm

Angered and distressed pensioners have contacted me very recently regarding Renfrewshire Council’s introduction of new charges for their Community Alarm service, and new charges to attend Day Care Centres.

At the beginning of the year pensioners within our sheltered housing complexes faced a double blow of the introduction of weekly charging for a newly slashed wardens’ service. Now we have additional charges for those living outside a sheltered housing complex environment.

The 24 hour x 365 days Community Alarm service is used by thousands of our most vulnerable members of the community – those assessed as being at risk and/or having disability. It helps to give an invaluable sense of security and confidence aiding independent living.

From the 1st of April:
•    Council tenants who previously enjoyed this service free are now to be charged at a rate of £3.10 per week to be billed quarterly at £40.30.
•    Private home owners in Renfrewshire, previously paying £1.60 per week now face increases of nearly 94% to the same amount as council tenants, £3.10 per week,  again payable quarterly at £40.30

Additionally, I have been told of new charges to attend Day Care Centres. Previously free to those in need of it but now to be charged at £1.50 per visit.

I fail to understand why these lifeline services particularly to vulnerable people have been directly targeted therefore I have written to the council asking for an explanation and I will continue to lobby against this unfairness.

Nurses and Health Workers

The UK government has offered NHS workers a three year deal worth eight per cent. The proposed deal would give over a million staff an increase of 2.75% from April, followed by further increases of 2.4% in 2009/10 and 2.25% in 2010/11. Both the Royal College of Nursing and Unison have welcomed the deal and will recommend its acceptance by their members. I welcome this news, a multi-year deal ensures security for staff, stability for the NHS, and I call on the Scottish Government to accept, and fund in full, this very reasonable offer.

I hope the Scottish Government has accounted for this in its budgeting. If not, and with the them giving away £1bn in tax revenue over the next three years, it may make things very tight for our Health Boards to also deliver our essential services.  We don’t want to see extensive cuts in NHS services like the ones we are already seeing in other areas.
Get on your bike

I recently learned of Go-Ride, a cycling programme and national network of cycling clubs for young people. The clubs run a wide range of cycling activities for the under eighteen’s right down to the very young, of all abilities. These include a variety of fun games which teach cycling skills to youngsters on any type of bike. Go ride can also introduce young people to mountain biking, BMX and track riding. Go Ride is open to all, can be set easier or harder whether you are a newcomer or more experienced but apparently always exciting and challenging. One club is based at Bellahouston Park but I am told there are weekly Saturday meetings at Barshaw park , so come on young Buddies, it might be time to try something new. For further details and contacts go to www.go-ride.org.uk