‘Cash crisis faces
ambulance service’
by David Skentelbery
THE ambulance service at Warrington is facing a crisis because regional bosses say they can’t afford to replace ageing vehicles, a Tory activist has claimed.
North West Ambulance Service chiefs say they need to replace 128 vehicles during the current year – but can only afford 35.
David Mowat, (pictured) who is to fight the Warrington South constituency for the Conservatives at the next general election, slammed the Government and the ambulance service.
He said: “When the local ambulance service was scrapped and the regional ambulance service was formed, the Department of Health promised an improved service and greater buying power.
“Now, barely 12 months into the life of the new, regional service, we find that the ageing fleet cannot be replaced due to a lack of cash. I am concerned that, without the investment, response times will not improve and lives will be put at risk.”
The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) was formed in July last year as a result of an amalgation of four NHS Trusts, including the Mersey Regional Ambulance NHS Trust, which covered Warrington.
According to Mr Mowat, it now says it needs to replace 128 of its 345-strong fleet but that due to “the major capital and revenue impact” of replacing even the most urgent 50, only 35 new vehicles will be bought this year.
Mr Mowat said the new regional service was already struggling to maintain response times in the Warrington area, compared to the former trust.
Five years ago, nearly 80 per cent of calls received a response within eight minutes. Now, that figure has declined to 72 per cent.
Mr Mowat added: “The last thing we need now is ambulances breaking down and being unavailable in an emergency due to their age or serviceability.
“The older the ambulances become the greater the risk of break downs and increased servicing and repair costs.
“It is not enough to blame problems from the former county ambulance services.
” NWAS has had over a year to sort these problems out, – it is simply not good enough. I will be writing to both the Government and NWAS to seek an explanation why after the boasts of greater spending power they now claim that they can only afford 35 of the 128 new ambulances required.”
An NWAS spokeswoman said the Trust was currently developing a new fleet strategy to determine the types and numbers of vehicles required in the near future.
?In the meantime, an interim replacement programme has been agreed and as a consequence the Trust has purchased 35 A&E ambulances, 18 rapid response vehicles and 108 Patient Transport Service (PTS) ambulances.
?The Trust has also extended the lease of 51 PTS ambulances and 36 A&E ambulances.?
Aim of the interim programme was to maintain continuity of service without impacting on the outcome of the strategy. The 35 A&E ambulances purchased were to replace those deemed to be in the most urgent need of replacement.
Since the interim replacement programme was approved, the Trust had also ordered an additional 18 rapid response vehicles.
The spokeswoman added: ?The Trust is committed to producing a comprehensive fleet strategy that will deliver the changes in fleet profile to meet the Trust’s future requirements.?
All vehicles were regularly maintained and checked to ensure that regulatory health and safety guidelines were adhered to.
Red Tie party raised ?500
LYMM resident Claire Evans raised almost ?500 with a ?Red Tie Party? at her home.
The money is to go to the British Red Cross ? and Claire is also taking part in the BUPA Great North Run on September 30 to raise more money for the Red Cross.
She hopes local people will sponsor her in what will be her first major run ? a half-marathon.
Currently she is out and about in Lymm, training hard for the run.
“More women needed
in skilled trades”
by David Skentelbery
A WARRINGTON-based construction boss says more women are needed in skilled trades in the North West.
Chris Saxton, chief executive of fit out specialists Morris and Spottiswood, of Birchwood, would like to see more young women encouraged into the construction trades to help ease the industry’s growing skills shortage in the region.
Despite a continuing construction boom and demand for experienced home-grown skilled trades workers outstripping supply, few women are choosing careers in the traditionally male-dominated trades to become painters, plumbers, plasterers, joiners and electricians.
Mr Saxton said: “Construction is one of the UK’s biggest industries but it is still very male dominated.
“As a result, our industry is often perceived as being ‘macho’ and hostile towards women when this is not the case.”
Women currently make up just 10 per cent of the UK construction workforce and just one per cent of trades people. The sector needs to recruit about 83,000 people every year for the next five years to meet the current skills shortfall.
Mr Saxton believes that the construction industry needs to address its image problem and change stereotypical perceptions before it can resolve its recruitment crisis.
He said: “I think young women are put off from pursuing construction careers because they see the industry as dangerous, male dominated, inflexible and not particularly child-friendly.
“If we want to attract this important group of workers, we need to engage them at an early age by working with schools and careers advisors to develop ‘promotional’ work experience programmes which both engage and demonstrate to young women that they can go far in a construction career.”
Morris and Spottiswood offers flexible working hours for mums and three months full pay for maternity leave. The company is also an accredited member of pregnancy health charity, Tommy’s Pregnancy Accreditation Programme, which enables employers to provide their staff with all the information and support they need for a healthy and productive working pregnancy.
“The more young women who know about these trades the better because there are so many great career opportunities they are missing,? Mr Saxton added.
Bus travel to get
smarter for some
by John Hendon
BUS travel is about to get smarter for some residents in Warrington.
From April 1 next year, residents aged 60 or over and eligible people with disabilities will be entitled to free off-peak bus travel in all towns and cities in England.
The new national scheme, announced by the Government in November 2006, means that current bus pass holders will need to upgrade to a national smartcard, which replaces the current blue passes.
The smartcard, which is the size of a credit card, will enable those eligible to hop on and off local buses in Warrington, as well as other English towns and cities like Manchester, Liverpool.
To get on board with the new scheme, both current bus pass holders and anyone who is eligible to take advantage of the new scheme must complete an application form and supply a recent passport size photograph.
Existing pass holders will automatically receive an application form through the post. It is important that they are completed and returned to the council by October 1.
Coun Peter Walker, the borough council?s executive member for Corporate Services, said: “Free bus travel has now been extended beyond Warrington to other English towns and cities, which is great news for our residents.
?The new smartcard will help Warrington bus users to save money on travel if visiting family or friends outside of the borough or whilst holidaying across England. I urge those eligible to take full advantage of the new scheme by returning your application form and getting smart!”
Youth club wins
?1,000 award
by staff reporter
A PROJECT in Warrington has won a ?1,000 award from Save the Children’s Here to HELP awards.
Save the C
hildren and British Gas created the ?here to HELP? awards to get young people involved in dynamic and lasting community projects.
The Creative Thinking project, based within Warrington Youth Club, is an easy-to-access creativity group for young people with disabilities, working alongside non-disabled young people, promoting interaction. The four month project is run by young volunteers on the first and third Thursday of each month within “Planet Blue”, the youth club’s night for disabled young people.
Fifty young people between the ages of 14 and 25 attend the sessions.
Tom Underhill, who is leading the project, said: “We’re delighted to have received the award to fund this project. It will mean that young people with disabilities will get the chance to get involved in creative sessions like painting, cooking, gardening, dance and percussion – being allowed to concentrate on the process rather than the finished product.”
So far the awards, which have been running for two years, have given away 153 awards and have funded projects and activities that are empowering children and young people who are excluded and isolated as well as those living in noted areas of deprivation to make positive changes to their communities.
Roxane Brown, Save the Children’s here to HELP Programme Manager, said: “It’s important that children and young people are given opportunities to get involved and make a valuable contribution to the the world around them. ‘here to HELP’ has seen children improve something important to them in their local community giving them a real sense of empowerment, responsibility and pride.”
For more information on the here to HELP awards please visit www.helpyourselves.org.uk
103-bedroom
hotel plan
by staff reporter
PLANS for a major new hotel at Warrington have been submitted to the borough council.
MEPC are seeking permission to build the four-storey, 103-bedroomed hotel on land at Birchwood Park, Birchwood.
The development would include an extensive car park.
News in brief
Celebrations
CELEBRATING its 10th birthday today (Saturday) is the Tugboats pre-school at Thelwall, Warrington. Miniature train rides, games, ice cream and visits from the fire service and police have been lined for the event at the Quays Community Centre.
Care home
PLANS for a new care home for the elderly at Collins Green, Warrington, have been submitted to the borough council. Rosevilla Residents Homes are seeking permission to build the two-storey building on land adjoining the existing residential home in Penkford Lane.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 3, 9, 12 and 16. The ?481 jackpot prize went unclaimed and will be rolled over to next week. A ?25 consolation prize was awarded to a hospital visitor.
Stable bid
STABLES have been erected on the former Moor and Daresbury Cricket Club ground in Chester Road, Walton, Warrington – in advance of an application for planning consent. The borough council’s development control committee will now decide if they can stay in place.
Activity mornings
ACTIVITY mornings for the elderly are to start at Wycliffe Church, Bewsey Street, Warrington from Wednesday, September 5, run by Age Concern. Monday tea dances are being held at The Pyramid -also run by Age Concern.
