John Hemming's Web Log

Introduction This week’s report from NHS West Midlands shows that the rate of new cases of swine flu continues to slow across the region. Information provided indicates current impact on the local services. Key Messages Patients presenting at primary care centres with influenza-like symptoms has decreased within the health economy over the last week. The number of people with swine flu admitted to hospitals in West Midlands has also fallen this week. Activity /Rates – GPs This shows the number of patients attending primary care with influenza-like illness, taken from the latest Health Protection Agency QSurveillance data. This data indicates a significant decrease for the week ending 23 August 2009, across England, West Midlands and within Birmingham East and North. The reported rate of GP consultations per 100,000 population within the West Midlands for the week was 20.3 (compared with 31.2 for the previous week). West Midlands average 20.3 (per 100,000) England and Wales rates 19.0

Harrogate BC, Starbeck LD Janet Law 886 (63.4; -8.8) Con 252 (18.0; +5.0) Ind 178 (12.7; +12.7) Lab 82 (5.9; +0.8) [BNP (0.0; -9.7)] Majority 634 Turnout 31.81% LD hold Percentage change is since May 2007 Buckhurst Hill PC, Buckhurst Hill East Gavin Chambers (LD) - 614 (62.5) Marshall Vance (Con) - 312 (31.8%) Tom Richardson (BNP) - 56 (5.7%) Majority 302 Turnout 28.1% Lib Dem hold. Party defending seat: LD. Cause: Death. Falmouth TC, Boslowick Con 469 (47.8) LD Roger Bonney 358 (36.5) MK 84 (8.6) Lab 71 (7.2) Majority 111 Turnout 22.44% Con gain from Ind Party defending seat: Ind. Cause: Resignation

In our last newsletter, we referred to “a few small plots have been purchased by people with the intention of delaying the Tesco development” at the Swan Centre Yardley and that “we are appalled by these ‘spoiling’ tactics”. That may have been thought to refer to Mr Jeremy Knight-Adams who is a property developer and has had involvement in a number of major retail developments in the Midlands. He has owned two plots of land within the area for more than 20 years and which are the subject of the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) that has been promoted by Birmingham City Council to facilitate a proposed development of the Swan Centre by Tesco Stores Limited. We wish to make it clear that we did not suggest in that leaflet that Mr Knight-Adams has engaged in or is engaging in “‘spoiling’ tactics”. He has explained to us that he objects to the CPO and has employed a team of lawyers and consultants to pursue that objection at the recent Public Inquiry into the CPO and that his objections were

Forest of Dean DC, Mitcheldean and Drybrook LD Sue Henchley 638 (55.1; +36.2) Ind 239 (20.6; -18.2) Con 195 (16.8; -5.8) Lab 86 (7.4; -12.1) Majority 399 Turnout 32.4% LD gain from Ind Percentage change is since May 2007 Blackpool UA, Stanley Con 648 (32.8; -28.2) Lab 602 (30.5; +4.6) LD Michael Hodkinson 332 (16.8; +3.6) UKIP 203 (10.3; +10.3) BNP 192 (9.7; +9.7) Majority 46 Turnout 36.4% Con hold Percentage change is since May 2007 West Lindsey DC, Saxilby Con 722 (60.6; +22.4) LD Dean John Woolley 407 (34.2; -27.6) UKIP 62 (5.2; +5.2) Majority 315 Turnout 28.3% Con gain from LD Percentage change is since May 2008 Ashfield DC, Hucknall Central LD Kevin Moore 463 (32.3; +18.8) Lab 392 (27.3; +6.8) Con 320 (22.3; -7.7) UKIP 181 (12.6; +12.6) Ind 79 (5.5; -30.5) Majority 71 Turnout 26.16% LD gain from Ind Percentage change is since May 2007

This week’s report from NHS West Midlands shows that the rate of new cases of swine flu continues to slow across the region. Information provided indicates current impact on the local services. Key Messages Patients presenting at primary care centres with influenza-like symptoms has decreased within the health economy over the last week. The number of people with swine flu admitted to hospitals in the West Midlands has fallen this week. Activity /Rates – GPs This shows the number of patients attending primary care with influenza-like illness, taken from the latest Health Protection Agency QSurveillance data. This data indicates a significant decrease for the week ending 16 August 2009, across England, West Midlands and within Birmingham East and North. The reported rate of GP consultations per 100,000 population within the West Midlands for the week was 31.2 (compared with 45 for the previous week). West Midlands average 31.2 (per 100,000) England and Wales rates 30.4 (per 100,000) NHS

Although John O Shea is often "inaccurate and badly informed", his post on Daniel Hannnan and the NHS is worth a link . In particular he highlights a Guardian Article about the NHS . The practise of people not having to worry when they are ill is something that has to be protected. There are problems with the obssession with targets which result in a system where often management priorities result in patients not being treated that well. However, they do not have to worry that for example the medicare budget is getting depleted or they don't have insurance. I met up with the Yardley Carers group this week and they did explain how difficult it is particularly caring for someone in the last days of life and that the system often creates additional trauma by pressurising them inappropriately. For example one person had her husband discharged to a hospice. After two weeks they said because he hadn't died he had to go somewhere else. This really should not be necessa

It probably surprised Nick Clegg more than me, but in "Total politics" Top 30 of MP Blogs. I have been pleasantly surprised to find myself at No 15. Nick Clegg is at no 18. I thank those people who voted for my blog. Willie Rennie (11) and Lynne Featherstone (8), however managed a higher position. Congratulations to Willie and Lynne.

The link is to Angela's story in the Sunday Times.

Exponential increases in the use of resources are impossible in the really long term. Even straight line increases come to a limit. The link is to the Economist article of 6th August which spots the fact that the energy figures don't reconcile.

The link is to today's Daily Mail story about Angela Wileman. The question for "the system" to answer is how has the state intervention benefited anyone either the children or the adults. As far as I can see the state intervention in this case has been entirely damaging and the activities of the courts have been moreso to protect the interests of the system rather than protect the children. Imaging removing a 7 year old from his mother in Ireland to put him in foster care in Devon to get him adopted. On what basis is that justifiable? Remember that the child is going to school and happy in his family who have been visited by the local health authority.

The link is to a story in The Spectator where he said. Consider Iceland, a volcanic lump at the uttermost edge of Europe, straddling the tectonic line that separates our continental plate from America’s. Iceland has few natural advantages: it is cold, treeless and, for much of the year, sunless. It has a population of 285,000 — roughly that of Croydon. Yet this sparse, chilly speck of tundra has just overtaken Norway to become the wealthiest place in Europe. Faced with a small home market, Icelandic entrepreneurs have expanded into neighbouring countries. In Britain alone they have bought, among other things, Hamleys, Somerfield, Oasis and Karen Millen. Icelanders now enjoy the highest life expectancy in the world. And — here’s the thing — they have achieved all this while remaining outside the EU.

Torridge DC, Holsworthy date: 13/08/2009 Ind 537 (53.3; +18.7) LD Vicky Shearman 471 (46.7; +2.8) [Con (0.0; -21.5)] Majority 66 Turnout 31.8% Ind gain from LD Percentage change is since May 2007 Kings Lynn and West Norfolk BC, Gaywood Chase date: 13/08/2009 Con 202 (28.7; -17.4) Lab 194 (27.5; -10.2) LD Ian Swinton 167 (23.7; +23.7) BNP 90 (12.8; +12.8) Green 52 (7.4; +7.4) Majority 8 Turnout 18% Con hold Percentage change is since May 2007 Scarborough BC, Hertford date: 13/08/2009 Green 894 (66.5; +41.7) Con 356 (26.5; -9.3) Ind 94 (7.0; +7.0) [BNP (0.0; -10.4)] [LD (0.0; -28.9)] Majority 538 Turnout 32.7% Green gain from Con Percentage change is since May 2007 Scarborough BC, Streonshalh date: 13/08/2009 Ind 246 / 48 (54.1; +20.9) LD Graham Mark Peirson 95 (17.5; -29.6) Con 80 (14.7; -4.9) Lab 74 13.6; +13.6) Majority 151 Turnout 14.8% Ind gain from LD Percentage change is since May 2007 Bridgend TC, Morfa date: 13/08/2009 Labour 187 Ann-Marie Vaughan Liberal Democrat 179 Tories 15

This week’s report from NHS West Midlands shows that cases of swine flu continue to spread across the region. It provides information on the spread of swine flu and its impact on the local services. Key Messages Patients presenting at primary care centres with influenza-like symptoms has decreased within the health economy over the last week. Activity /Rates – GPs This shows the number of patients attending primary care with influenza-like illness, taken from the latest Health Protection Agency QSurveillance data. This data indicates a significant decrease for the week ending 9 August 2009, across England, West Midlands and within Birmingham East and North. The reported rate of GP consultations per 100,000 population within the West Midlands for the week was 45 (compared with 73.3 for the previous week). West Midlands average 45.0 (per 100,000) England and Wales rates 48.0 (per 100,000) NHS Birmingham East and North 49.0 (per 100,000) Number of Hospital Admissions The total number of n

When parliament returns I intend doing a speech about Jeremy Knight Adams and how he has acted in a way which has caused delays in the development at The Swan in Yardley. I would be interested in having any other information about his involvement in other developments as it will assist in looking at the law on Compulsory Purchase and what changes may be needed. If anyone has any useful information could they either email it to me or send it to me at the House of Commons.

I have linked to another NHS Blog Doc report on Tamiflu and whether it is advisable to take it for Swine Flu. Snopes confirms that Tamiflu is a major financial interest of Donald Rumsfled.

Introduction This week’s report from NHS West Midlands shows that cases of swine flu continue to spread across the region. It provides information on the spread of swine flu and its impact on the local services. Key Messages Patients presenting at primary care centres with influenza-like symptoms has decreased within the health economy over the last week. Activity /Rates – GPs This shows the number of patients attending primary care with influenza-like illness, taken from the latest Health Protection Agency QSurveillance data. QSurveillance data indicates a significant decrease for the week ending 2 August 2009, across England, West Midlands and within Birmingham East and North. The reported rate of GP consultations per 100,000 population within the West Midlands for the week was 73.3 (compared with 200.1 for the previous week). West Midlands average 73.3 (per 100,000) England and Wales rates 71.3 (per 100,000) NHS Birmingham East and North 70.0 (per 100,000) Number of Hospital Admissi

Didcot TC, Northbourne date: 06/08/2009 David Rouane (Lib Dem) 152 (42.1%) Labour 124 (34.3%) Conservative 85 (23.5%) Lib Dem majority 28 Turnout 12% Lib Dem gain from Labour Labour councillor resigned. Top candidate for each party in this ward in 2007 got: Con 451 (39.8%) Lab 444 (39.2%) Ind 237 (20.9%) Giving changes of: Lib Dem +42.1% Con -16.3% Lab -4.9% (Ind -20.9%) Little Gaddesden PC date: 06/08/2009 LD Rob Irving 102 Philip Melville 97 Turnout 23% (postal votes turnout was in the 40%s)

The link is to the publication of the Wicks Report. I need to spend some time looking at it to work out where it is wrong. On the information I am aware of, however, we face a number of energy crunches on supply over the next decade. It will be an interesting task to reconcile this report with reality.

This morning I received odd emails from two of my team with the heading Fotos 27/07. This was because they had both got a virus which has spread very quickly. That is because instead of having failed photos it links to an odd website. I, therefore, went into the office to clean up the computers. There is some information around on the net about this, but it was not clear exactly what is going on so I have written this note. To clean the computer. 1. Look for a directory c:\winnt_ 2. In this directory you should find a number of files including id and various exe files eg winnt1.exe winnt2.exe etc. 3. Start task manager. Look at the processes. Cancel all of the processes whose names exist in the winnt_ directory. (there won't be one for id) 4. Delete all the files in winnt_ 5. Remove the directory. At that point as far as I can tell the virus has been removed. There will, however, be some registry entries that need cleaning up. On the web there is a recommendation to d

The link is to a story about a court of appeal judgment that moves away from treating smacking as child abuse. That sounds good to me, but I would like to read the judgment before saying much more.