“Impressive” health Trust
is now “fit for purpose”
by David Skentelbery
AN independent assessment of Warrington Primary Care Trust has highlighted “impressive progress? since an inspection carried out last year which described the organisation has ?not fit for purposes.
The new assessment says significant improvements have been made and that the PCT is now ?Fit for Purpose?.
Now the PCT – which is responsible for spending the town’s ?264m health budget ? is said to be projecting to achieve financial balance, with well co-ordinated and focused planning activities and improved clinical engagement.
The organisation holds its annual general meeting on tomorrow (Friday) at Bold Street Methodist Church, Warrington when chief executive Andrew Burgess will be outlining progress made to date and plans for further improvements in the future. The meeting starts at 2pm.
Mr Burgess, who joined the PCT earlier this year, said: ?Achieving fit for purpose has been really important for the PCT, to recognise the hard work that the PCT board and all the staff have put in since it was deemed not fit for purpose last year.
?Having effected significant improvements within the PCT, we have also developed strong, constructive relationships with key clinical organisations such as the North Cheshire Hospitals, 5 Boroughs mental health and the Warrington GP Consortium, which I believe bode extremely well for the future of the Warrington health service.? PricewaterhouseCoopers, the independent assessors who carried out the review, say: ?Warrington PCT are now evaluated as being fit for purpose. The evidence presented of progress is impressive – particularly in the areas of financial review, planning and monitoring.
?We conclude that the building blocks to operate as an effective commissioner have been put in place, eg, good governance systems, effective integration of directorates working, involvement of public health in commissioning, and development of Practice Based Commissioning. Overall, there are good practices now in place within Warrington PCT, that other PCTs, in the view of, PricewaterhouseCoopers could now learn from.?
Recognising success
by Gary Skentelbery
LATCHFORD Albion Unicorns amateur Rugby league club have kicked off the new term on the back of one of the club’s most successfull seasons to date
A commission report carried out by Warrington Service Area found that for the 06/07 season Latchford were officially the largest club in Warrington and the leading club in terms of ethnic minority representation, also one of only three clubs to have female players.
The club had six players sign professional contracts this year from their U16s team – one for Wigan, one for Leeds and the remaining four for Warrington. The U16s also became the first ever Warrington winners for the U16 Premier League and also captured the Lancashire Cup. There was also team success for the U13 Unicorns team topping their Division.
Steve Phillips, Youth and Junior Secretary said: “While the players on the pitch are the ones to take the glory, and quite rightly so, we should recognise the people behind the teams that make this success possible – the coaches and administration staff that ensures Latchford Albion continues to be a success!!
“We had plenty of success in this field as well with Andy Wood being appointed Assistant Coach of BARLA U18s as well as Head Coach of Warrington Service Area (WSA) U13s squad. Ian Bennion was involved in the coaching team of the WSA U12s set up and Sean Mellor was Head Coach of the WSA U14s. John Wilkinson and Stuart McIntosh shared the Service Area Coordinators’s role, while Bobby Hall was involved in the Scholarship Scheme. There were of course all the coaches that ensured some 235 children from U8s to U17s were able to play and take part in rugby league during the season.”
At the clubs AGM – the RFL recognised the efforts made by all the coaches at the club by presenting them with ‘Certificates of Appreciation’ for their hard work during the season!
The awards were handed out by Neil Kelly – Foundation Director, Warrington Wolves Foundation and John Wilkinson – Service Area Coordinator and RFL representative.
Students toast
healthy future
by Gary Skentelbery
NEW students at the University of Chester?s Warrington campus toasted a healthy future by sampling fruit smoothies with star players from Warrington Wolves as part of their induction programme.
The University?s Department of Biological Sciences and Chester Students? Union?s Food Appreciation Society joined forces to organise a lifestyle event in which first-year students were able to sample free healthy smoothies and kebabs, collect information on eating healthily on a budget, and speak to experts on diet and nutrition.
The day, which was held as part of Induction Week and promoted the University?s Health 4 Work programme, was being supported by Warrington Wolves RLFC.
Basma Ellahi, Head of Biological Sciences, said: ?This event helped us to spread the message that there are many quick and easy methods of maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle on a budget.
?There is clear evidence that increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables decreases the risk of a number of chronic diseases in later life. Promoting increased consumption on a budget to students is an essential part of any nutritionist or dietician?s daily work.”
Throughout the day, nutrition experts at the University were on hand to offer advice and tips about maintaining a balanced diet and beneficial lifestyle.
The free smoothies were made by students from the Food Appreciation Society, which throughout the academic year organises events, talks and trips on all things food-related.
The Society?s Kate Green said: ?We?re always keen to engage with students to demonstrate that people can enjoy delicious food that is also healthy. The smoothies we made were not only tasty, but also very easy and cheap to make.?
The Health 4 Work initiative involves staff and students across the University?s Chester and Warrington campuses, and is a joint venture between the Chester campus Fitness Suite and Human Resource Management Services.
Miranda lands a
place at Cambridge
by staff reporter
A 19-year-old Warrington girl is celebrating after being accepted by Cambridge University following outstanding success in her A Levels this summer.
Miranda Murphy, from Walton, has taken up an offer at Corpus Christi College to study archaeology and anthropology.
She landed three A grades in her A-Levels at Priestley College in English Literature, History and Archaeology after gaining a B grade in AS Level Politics a year earlier.
Miranda?s achievements came as part of the college?s best-ever A Level results with the pass rate standing at 99.7 per cent.
She will see some familiar faces at Cambridge as four other Priestley students have accepted places at the university – Danny Cheung, Cameron Lyons, Talya Underwood and Kieran Hawkins.
Councillor hits out
over school closure
by John Hendon
A SENIOR councillor has slammed the controlling group on Warrington Borough Council for refusing to allow further examination of the controversial decision to close Woolston High School.
Coun Colin Froggatt, Labour, says he is bitterly disappointed that the controlling Lib Dem-Tory alliance is not prepared to allow the decision to be further examined by the council?s own scrutiny committee.
He said: ?This would have allowed local councillors, school governors and parents of pupils to question the executive board regarding the decision to close the school – something which was denied them by the leader of the council when the decision was made.”
Council rules stipulate that a “call in ” for a decision to be examined by the scrutiny committee needs to be requested by members of more than one political party.
?Desp
ite asking all the Liberal Democrat and Conservative members, including local members, to support the call for further scrutiny I was confronted by silence and refusal,? said Coun Froggatt.
?The only support I obtained was from Labour members of the council.”
“Together with the Woolston councillors, Paul Bretherton, Maureen Banner and Bill Brinksman, and the support of the local people, the fight will continue to keep Woolston High open during the statuory consultation process which is now due to take place.”
Visit warrington.tvto see a video report on the campaign to save Woolston High School.
Shopkeepers urged to be
ready for new tobacco law
by John Hendon
SHOPKEEPERS in Warrington are being urged to make sure they are up to speed with changes to the age limit for tobacco sales.
From October 1, the legal minimum age to purchase tobacco rises from 16 to 18 ? and national statistics show 78 per cent of regular smokers usually buy their cigarettes from shops.
Some 66 per cent buy from newsagents, tobacconists or sweet shops.
Raising the legal age to 18 will make it easier for retailers to spot under-age smokers and lead to a fall in the number of teenagers who get addicted to nicotine and continue to smoke into adulthood, it is claimed.
It also brings the legal age for buying tobacco into line with that for alcohol.
Businesses that sell to under 18s risk prosecution and a fine of up to ?2,500 and Warrington?s Trading Standards team will continue to give advice and support to help retailers comply with the law.
For example, using a refusals register, which includes a description of customers who are refused sales, will help retailers assess how well their staff are adapting to the new law and can help in avoiding mistakes.
Coun Roy Smith, the borough council?s executive member for community services, said: ?Underage smokers are a real concern across the country and raising the legal minimum age should help lead to a fall in the numbers of teenagers who get addicted. It is also very important that employers train their staff if these changes are going to have any affect.”
The council is also urging traders to implement a ?No ID, no sale? policy and advising 18 and 19 year old smokers to carry an accredited proof of age card when they buy cigarettes, such as CitizenCard, or other valid form of photo ID, such as passport or driving licence.
Traders will need warning signs in their shops about the new law. Copies of this can be printed off at www.tobaccoagechange.co.uk
Teenagers who want to stop smoking can call the Warrington Stop Smoking Service on 01925 843713 or the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 or visit www.gosmokefree.co.uk
More than 100 nominated
for positive action awards
by staff reporter
MORE than 100 organisations and individuals were nominated for this year?s Positive Action Awards ? organised by Warrington Disability Partnership ? to reward businesses, service providers and individuals who are making a difference to the lives of disabled people and cares in the North West.
Disabled people across the region provided the nominations for the awards, sponsored by the North West Development Agency.
There are 1.4 million disabled people and 750,000 carers in the North West and the awards provide opportunity to promote the innovative work undertaken by organisations and individuals to support both disabled people and their carers.
Event co-ordinator Dave Thompson said the awards were now more popular than ever and the judges had been set a hard task to shortlist the final 16 winners.
The winners included individuals who have dedicated their lives to enabling disabled people to become more independent, small businesses that have made changes to their services to accommodate the needs of disabled customers and employees and large national employers delivering fantastic support to disabled employees.
They also included a caf? operated from a community centre and staffed by adults with learning disabilities and local organisations managed by disabled people and promoting empowerment.
Awards were presented by NWDA chief executive Steven Broomhead at a gala presentation evening at the Halton Stadium, Widnes and the keynote speech was given by Phil Friend OBE, RADAR’s Chair of Trustees.
Nominations for next year?s awards can be made online via www.positiveactionawards.org.uk or by nomination form available from Warrington Disability Partnership on 01925 240064.
