Good news! The Health Centre has just been given final financial approval from the Strategic Health Authority so hopefully contracts can now be signed and building work can commence shortly.
The County Health Scrutiny Committee has just met the new Interim Chair of Morecambe Bay Hospital Foundation Trust who gave us a very positive vision on how he sees the Trust should progress from their past failings.
Sir David Henshall was very focused on the future of the organisation and mentioned the new directors he is bringing in to the Trust who, with the help of all the dedicated staff already in place will help to turnaround the Trust.
The committee were pleased to see a more focused and positive attitude from the Trust but will need to see evidence in the coming months that improvements are being made.
It is important that in a time of such changes, continuity of service is maintained and that trust is rebuilt with local communities. This committee remains one of the few democratic bodies that can hold the Trust to account and we will continue to reflect local concerns as we challenge the Trust to drive up improvement.
I recently met with the Grange Disability Group and the County Highways Engineer to look at improving access in Grange Town Centre. We came up with an agreed programme of works which will be assessed by the Engineer and included in the Highways local programme for this coming financial year.
As many of you will have gathered the Household Recycling Centre at Guides Lot on Allithwaite Road will remain open with restricted hours which will come into place later this year .The basis of this will mean an operating site opening two days instead of three which is not ideal but better than no service at all. I would like to thank everyone who responded to the consultation. Your efforts did not go unrewarded.
Another youth led programme has been initiated by the Grange and Cartmel Local Area Partnership which is funded from both the County and District Councils working together with our eight local Parishes. This Multi-media Musical MashUp as it is called has been run in village halls around the area to the delight of many youngsters and hopefully we will try and run similar workshops later in the year if funding allows. I know my County Engagement Officer Kelly Alty has had positive feedback from a lot of youngsters on this but if parents could also give us their thoughts that would be great. Kelly’s contacts are by e-mail at [email protected] or telephone 01539 713447.
Regards,
Bill Wearing.
Conservative County Councillor for Grange
Chair Cumbria Health Scrutiny Committee
Tel: 015395 32482