John Hemming's Web Log

This report from NHS West Midlands shows that the rate of new cases of swine flu has begun to increase across the region. Information provided indicates current impact on the local services. Key Messages Across the West Midlands there has been an increase in patients presenting at primary care centres with influenza-like symptoms. This is not impacting on normal service delivery and there has not been an increase in cases admitted to hospital in 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 an increase for the week ending 20 September 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 15 (compared with 11.9 for the previous week). West Midlands average 15.0 (per 100,000) England and Wales rates 16.5 ...

North Tyneside MBC, Preston Con 1141 (55.8; -14.2) Lab 503 (24.6; -5.3) Public Services not Private Profit 174 (8.5; +8.5) LD John Christopher Appleby 152 (7.4; +7.4) Green 73 (3.6; +3.6) Majority 638 Turnout not known Con hold Percentage change is since May 2008 Party defending seat: Con. Cause: Resignation. Tendring DC, Burrsville Con 455 (55.2; -10.5) LD Joyce Edith O'Brien 227 (27.5; +15.7) Lab 90 (10.9; +1.1) Green 52 (6.3; +6.3) [Others (0.0; -12.6)] Majority 228 Turnout 46% Con hold Percentage change is since May 2007. Party defending seat: Con. Cause: Death. Hartlepool BC, Elwick Ind 233 / 132 / 28 (60.4; -24.2) Con 201 (30.9; +30.9) Lab 40 (6.1; -9.3) LD Keith Macfadyen 17 (2.6; +2.6) Majority 32 Turnout 29.24% Ind hold Percentage change is since May 2006 Party defending seat: Ind. Cause: Death. Broxtowe BC, Toton and Chilwell Meadows Con 1081 (56.6; +8.3) LD Robert Pembleton 474 (24.8; -0.3) Lab 296 (15.5; +1.3) BNP 58 (3.0; -4.1) [UKIP (0.0; -5.2)] Majority 607 Turnout n...

I left Birmingham for the conference after my advice bureau (as usual). It is good that we continue to concentrate on the issue of the tax threshold for people in work, but on low incomes. The government are in a financial mess. I have been trying to work out how they have been funding "quantative easing". Initially I thought it was funded directly, but it now looks like it is not funded. It is interesting to see to what extent this is sustainable. It remains that a massive continuing deficit is not sustainable. My concern is to ensure that we protect services whilst going through a difficult period. I have spoken at two fringe meetings about Social work and Child Protection. It is good that there is a dialogue between those critical of the system and those who work in it. In fact there is common ground as to what systematic problems there are. In particular the performance indicators and the integrated childrens system come in for some serious criticism. What happe...

Buckinghamshire CC, Amersham Conservative 1840 (46.6; -3.7) Lib Dem Davida Allen 1768 (44.8; 0.0) UKIP 140 (3.5; +3.5) Labour 106 (2.7, -2.2) Green 95 (2.4; +2.4) Conservative HOLD Majority 72 Turnout 30.6 Newark and Sherwood DC, Beacon Conservative 413 (48.2; - 0.7) Lib Dem Decland Logue 296 (34.7; +7.8) Labour 147 (17.2; -7.1) Consvative HOLD Majority 117 Turnout 16.6 Nottinghamshire CC, Newark East Conservative 517 (45.2; -6.4) Lib Dem Chris Harrison 322 (28.1; - 2.3) Labour 198 (17.3; -0.7) UKIP 107 (9.4; +9.4) Conservative HOLD Majority 195 Turnout 15.6 Birmingham City MBC, Sparkbrook Respect 2495 (39.6; -7.0) Labour 2228 (35.4; -1.3) Conservative 799 (12.7; +7.5) Lib Dem Maeem Quarefhi 506 (8.0; +1.5) Green 213 (3.4 +3.4) Independent 55 (0.9 +0.9) BNP 0 (0; -1.5) Turnout 32.3 Majority 267 Respect HOLD Redcar and Cleveland UA, South Bank Labour 442 (43.6; -6.9) Lib Dem Steven Abbot 354 (34.9; +25.1) Ind 102 (10.1; -5.0) UKIP 69 (6.8; +6.8) Conservative 47 (4.6; -5.7) BNP 0 (0; -14...

York City UA, Heworth Lab 876 (34.0; -2.6) LD Jennifer Ayre 608 (23.6; +11.5) Con 591 (23.0; +2.3) Green 302 (11.7; -6.1) BNP 172 (6.7; -6.0) Official Monster Raving Loony Party 25 (1.0; +1.0) Majority 268 Turnout 26.6% Lab hold Percentage change is since May 2007 Daventry DC, Drayton Counting Friday morning, result expected at 2pm. South Tyneside MBC, Westoe Ind 694 / 194 (39.2; -26.4) Lab 567 (25.0; +6.1) Con 320 (14.1; +3.3) BNP 266 (11.7; +11.7) LD William John Troupe 225 (9.9; +9.9) Majority 127 Turnout 34.5% Ind hold Percentage change is since May 2008 Leicester City UA, Castle Lab 611 (31.7; +5.1) Green 519 (26.9; -8.6) Con 435 (22.6; +7.2) LD Joan Garrity 292 (15.1; -3.1) UKIP 41 (2.1; -0.5) Liberal 31 (1.6; -0.1) Majority 92 Turnout 12.65% Lab gain from Green Percentage change is since May 2007 Harborough DC, Market Harborough Welland LD Colin Davies 600 (54.8; +7.1) Con 373 (34.1; +5.3) BNP 122 (11.1; +11.1) [Lab (0.0; -23.5)] Majority 227 Turnout 22.8% LD hold Percentage ch...

Please note that until further notice, these briefings will be issued on a fortnightly basis. 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 increased 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 decrease for the week ending 6 September 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 11.4 (compared with 14 for the previou...

The report has now been released. It confirms a number of things. It confirms the substantial sums of money which in my view should not have been removed from the group whilst it was being managed by the directors although it makes it clear that one of the directors was uncomfortable about this. It also confirms that the community were squeezed out of the bid which initially involved more than 4 key players. It recognises that the governments revelation of financial problems resulted in pushing the company into administration in 2005 - although it was most likely heading into administration at that time. It also recognises that the alternative to Phoenix in 2000 was liquidation (although it could have been possible to have a further review with Alchemy). What is sad about all of this is that it could have been a lot different. What the report reveals is that there were a number of solutions after 2000 when it would have been possible for the business to continue over time. The dama...

John Hemming MP, Chairman of Justice for Families, has struck out at Martin Narey for his suggestion that more babies should be taken into care and that more adoptions is the solution to prevent situations like that in Edlington. "Martin Narey demonstrates a lack of knowledge of the stastical realities as to what has happening in England. The number of babies taken into care under 1 month has jumped from 430 in 1995 to 1,140 in 2006. Of the 1,140 in 2006 670 were taken into care in the first seven days of their life essentially "at birth". "He also makes the assumption that once a child is adopted all is good. Sadly the government are turning a blind eye to the number of disrupted adoptions. In 2006 6,000 children under 10 years old were taken into care and 3,520 children under 10 left care through adoption. That means 59% of children leaving care through adoption. "The government themselves said this year that "This does not mean that adoption is ap...

Medway UA, Luton & Wayfield Con 1042 (36.9; +10.8) Lab 1038 (36.7; -12.3) LD Gary Allanach 223 (7.9; +7.9) UKIP 200 (7.1; +7.1) BNP 186 (6.6; +6.6) Ind 87 (3.1; -21.9) Green 51 (1.8; +1.8) Majority 4 Turnout 29.78% Con gain from Lab Percentage change is since May 2007 Wiltshire UA, Southwick Ind 385 (37.2; +37.2) LD Gordon King 315 (30.5; -8.8) Con 273 (26.4; -34.3) UKIP 61 (5.9; +5.9) Majority 70 Turnout 30.66% Ind gain from Con Percentage change is since June 2009 Plymouth City UA, Ham Lab 1243 (44.0; +2.7) Con 676 (23.9; -15.7) UKIP 442 (15.6; +15.6) BNP 82 (2.9; +2.9) Ind 204 (7.2; +7.2) LD Rebecca Trimnell 181 (6.4; -6.8) [Green (0.0; -5.9)] Majority 567 Turnout 29% Lab hold Percentage change is since May 2008 Stamford TC, St Georges Ind 243 (42.4) Con 135 (23.6) LD Raymond Donald Lee 115 (20.1) No Description 80 (14.0) Majority 108 Turnout 17.7% Ind hold Party defending seat: Ind. Cause: Death. Oswestry TC, Castle Con 214 (61.3) LD Brain L Willis 135 (38.7) Majority 79 Turnou...

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 30 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 14.0 (compared with 20.3 for the previous week). West Midlands average 14.0 (per 100,000) England and Wales rates 14.0 (...

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.