Dear
Member,
Our essential services face a toxic mix
of excessive cuts and incompetent political leadership
It
hasn’t taken them long, but the Conservative Government together with their Tory
London Mayor have managed to throw the NHS, London's police service and now the
London Fire Brigade into crisis.
Across
London essential hospital services are facing closure. In Croydon, we face
special challenges. The NHS is a top
priority for me. It is fundamental to people’s wellbeing, and as a local
resident I am grateful for the medical attention at Mayday that saved my life.
Croydon
Primary Care is in a financial crisis brought on by astonishing financial
misreporting - with £28 million adrift on accounts made worse by the reorganisation
into commissioning groups. All this turmoil, reorganisation and financial
pressure is taking its toll of our precious NHS.
Mayday
is also in crisis as the Care Quality Commission outlined serious failings in
staffing, equipment, procedures and failing to provide the required standards
in Accident and Emergency. It was the
late Malcolm Wicks who described Croydon University Hospital as not “the
modern, caring hospital people in Croydon require”. If you were to choose me as
the Labour candidate to seek election to become Croydon North's MP, I would be
involved closely in understanding and supporting our local NHS and the
dedicated staff who work for us.
Challenging Boris, but unsurprised by his
ignorance of police and fire brigade matters
As
a London Assembly member and a former member of the Metropolitan Police
Authority, I am shocked by the chaos and uncertainty created around London's police
by the imposition of 20 per cent cash cuts. It is not just that the cuts are
excessive, but the damage is made worse because of the secretive and
disorganised way they are being implemented. This is damaging our vital police
service.
I
have challenged Boris Johnson in public about the closure of South Norwood police
station. What is most frustrating is how little he knows about the service he is
supposed to run – but then we ought not be surprised about the conduct of London
Matters
just get worse: a leaked document shows that the Fire Brigade is planning to
close at least 17 of its 112 stations in 2013 to balance the books. Although
none are planned to close in Croydon, neighbouring areas would lose six
stations, and that can only put a greater strain on our local crews. As a
former chair of the Brigade, I can see a once great service being stretched too
far. You can read my thoughts about the
Tory mismanagement of London
What
are your experiences of the blue light services in Croydon? Have you recently
used these emergency and medical services? What more do you think Labour should
be doing on these vital issues?
I look forward to working together with you in the best
interests of the people of Croydon,
Val Shawcross AM CBE
