PDE Column, 2nd February 2009 – Nursery fights for life, Victory on C-Diff, Know your rights

Nursery Fights for Life

Tomorrow the West of Scotland University Court will make a final decision on the future of the on-site nursery at Paisley. I really hope the Court will opt for a last minute reprieve. The parents and staff deserve the chance to work with the University authorities to come up with a cost effective solution that provides an on-site nursery. I had had some wonderfully moving representations from parents.

One local Paisley Grandparent wrote “both our grandsons have had the benefit of a first class early years education, administered by caring, competent and highly professional staff…In the event of closure our daughter will have to leave University”.

The nurses’ trade union wrote to me this week, “thank you for your support for parliamentary motion S2M-03233 on the future of nursery provision by the University of West of Scotland. This is one of ten universities in Scotland that provides nursing studies courses and we have many student members enrolled on their course.” They went on to tell me that of surveyed nurses who had to consider leaving their course, for a significant percentage the reason was childcare difficulties.

Perhaps I feel this issue all the more intensely because my own children started nursery this month. Although on the odd Friday they get to come to Mummy’s office to cause chaos as I try and clear up correspondence for the week. However I am abandoning them with their grandparents at the weekend to attend St Mirren’s first game in the new stadium. I am very much looking forward to that.

Victory on C-Diff

Many of you will know of my ongoing campaign, since the tragic vale of Leven C Diff outbreak last year that also hit the RAH, to improve hospital hygiene. Every month since the official report into the Vale was published I have continuously lobbied the Health Minister – letters, questions in Parliament, constituency cases, expert evidence – we have used them all to try and force each and every hospital to report their MRSA levels.

I am delighted that after six months of campaigning, the Health Minister has finally launched a website to report infection rates hospital by hospital.

There is still more that needs done but the website is an important step forward in the fight against hospital infection. In future all of us will be able to see what has been happening at the touch of a button.

My next priority is to see a restoration of the RAH cleaning budget which has fallen by an astonishing £3855 per bed this year. I am also lobbying local RAH bosses to ensure every member of staff at RAH receives infection control training next year. This way our hospitals become safer, and at least one of the fears about a hospital stay is effectively tackled

Know your Rights

Finally, the Council is hitting lots of people in unexpected ways. So make sure you know what help is available. The UK government has produced an excellent booklet called Real Help Now– listing Practical information and advice on a wide variety of matters many people are currently anxious about, including how to help with keeping your home, with training and skills and with jobs and benefits

You can access a copy under the ‘News’ section on this site.

In the Scottish Parliament, Labour has been arguing for extra modern apprenticeships and support for training to ensure no return of the youth unemployment of the ‘80’s. The number of young people thrown on the scrap heap then is too easily forgotten. There must be no return to those dark days and wasted years. The first step is to encourage youngsters to get all the qualifications they can at school. Labour introduced the EMA, 6 years ago, to encourage youngsters in cash strapped families to stay on and finish their education. So if you know anyone who might qualify – encourage them to apply.