Primary health care
trust loses its stars
by staff reporters
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WARRINGTON Primary Care Trust – the body which runs GP surgeries, health centres and other community health services across the borough – has lost its two star status.
The Trust receives no stars in the NHS performance ratings published today (Wednesday).
But North Cheshire NHS Hospital Trust, which runs Warrington and Halton General hospitals, has been awarded two stars – an improvement on last year’s one star rating.
PCT chief executive Jonathan Smith said he could reassure patients that the Trust was working hard to improve standards.
He said: “We are obviously extremely disappointed as we have made a great deal of progress in many areas of our work.
“We are particularly pleased with the results of our most recent patient survey, highlighted in the report, which indicates people of Warrington have a high level of satisfaction in their local NHS,” he added.
Ratings, by the Healthcare Commission, look at continuous improvement and Mr Smith said the PCT had not retained its two stars because the rate of improvement in certain areas was not quick enough.
He assured patients that standards were not deteriorating and praised the commitment and professionalism of staff throughout the town.
“We have implemented a new contract for family doctor services whilst maintaining all services, and put in place a new out-of-hours service. The PCT’s financial position was and remains sound,” he said.
On the 42 main indicators against which they were judged, he said, the PCT came out average or above on 34.
“We recognise, though, that we must get better quicker. We have put in place a number of initiatives to achieve this, and we have begun to see visible improvements from changes we have made since the period covered by the star ratings,” said Mr Smith.
“We take our responsibility to improve health services for the people of Warrington very seriously and will work hard to retrieve our position in the star rating.
The PCT achieved five of the nine key targets. Failing on four of the targets means it is automatically zero-rated, regardless of performance in the other indicators.
There was jubilation, however, at North Cheshire NHS Hospitals Trust, over its improved status.
Chief executive Ian Dalton said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have moved up a star as this proves to staff and those who use our hospitals that we are moving in the right direction.
“After two years as a one star Trust achieving this additional star and recognition which accompanies it marks a significant shift in the Trust’s performance. This is a reflection of the continued dedication of all our staff and of very real improvements in hospital services for the people of North Cheshire.”
Chris Hannah, chief executive of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust for attaining two stars in this year’s ratings. This is a tremendous achievement and staff at the trust should be justly proud of the contribution they have made to the quality of patient care being delivered within this organisation, which is reflected in two stars awarded to them.”
Woman stood guard
outside empty bank
by David Skentelbery
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A MOTHER and her nine-year-old daughter stood guard outside a Warrington bank for nearly an hour after discovering it unlocked but deserted in the early evening.
An alarm was sounding – but it was 48 minutes before police arrived and an hour and-a-half before anyone from the bank showed up.
Even then, it was just a member of staff who happened to be passing and had some keys with her.
Now Joanne Arada, 31 and her daughter Leila, nine, of Lymm, have received a bouquet of flowers from Lloyds TSB bank at Lymm with a note apologising for the “inconvenience” she suffered outside the bank.
Joanne said: “It was nice to get the flowers – but it wasn’t just an inconvenience. I was guarding their bank for an hour and-a-half!”
It was just after 5pm when Joanne and Leila arrived to use the cash point outside the bank. They noticed the door was open and, assuming it must be late opening night, walked in – triggering the burglar alarm.
“Our first thought was that people would think we were burglars,” said Joanne. “Leila was distressed and thought we would get into trouble.
“But I thought it was my duty to stay until the police arrived. I felt responsible for guarding the bank – for all I knew there could have been robbers in the back.
“I assumed the alarm was linked to the police station. But after 20 minutes I got someone in a nearby restaurant to phone them. It was 48 minutes before they arrived – the bank could have been robbed and ransacked.”
An interior door leading to the area behind the counter, was also open, and the cash point in the bank was also accessible to intruders.
When police arrived, they checked the bank and thanked Joanne for her intervention. They called the bank’s head office and were told someone would be sent to secure the premises.
Joanne continued to wait, but no-one from the bank turned up. Fortunately she saw someone passing by she knew worked at the bank. The woman had keys with her and was able to lock the doors.
“I waited at the bank for about one and a half hours in total,” said Joanne. “It was very stressful and it took a while to calm my daughter down.
“Yobs from the village could have been in and trashed the place and no-one seemed bothered.”
A police spokesman said the alarm was linked to a security company which notified police at 17.58 – four minutes after officers had arrived at the scene. It had taken only four minutes to deploy a patrol.
A spokeswoman for Lloyds TSB said: “We take security very seriously and are very concerned to hear of this isolated incident. This was a one-off that will not happen again. We would like to assure all customers that money and valuables are locked away inside the bank and no unauthorised person would have been able to access anything of value.”
Police officer
killed in crash
by John Hendon
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A POLICE officer from Warrington has died from injuries he received in a tragic motor cycle crash.
PC Mark Leach, aged 38, from Fearnhead, was involved in the three-vehicle crash in Cliffe Lane, Lymm, near the Poplars truckstop.
He was travelling home from work at Knutsford at the time when his machine was in collision with a Fiat Cordova travelling in the opposite direction.
The third vehicle involved in the incident was a tractor trailer.
The accident happened at 7.15 am and police are appealing for witnesses to call 01244 613641.
“More parish councils
needed in borough”
by David Skentelbery
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NEW parish councils should be set up in those parts of Warrington which do not have them, according to a Liberal Democrat councillor.
Coun Roy Smith (pictured) said parish councils were democratically elected and had the ability to bring communities together.
Ward forums – another idea being tried by the borough council – were not elected bodies, he said.
Coun Smith moved a resolution at the monthly meeting of the borough council that the council should accept that parish councils were an important feature of local democracy, with an independent role to play in servicing the local community and should investigate setting up more parish councils prior to taking a decision to create the less democratic ward forums.
He said: “Between 35 and 40 per cent of people voted in the parish elections. This may not be as many as we would like, but how many people vote for a ward forum? “Parish councils provides things like Christm
as light, fetes, carnivals and plant spring bulbs. How many spring bulbs are planted by ward forums?” Leader of the council John Joyce said the resolution was premature as the issue was due to be considered by the council’s scrutiny committee. A lot of people had worked very hard to create ward forums, he said.
Ward forums performed a similar role to that of parish councils.
He pointed out that many people were elected unopposed to parish councils, who also had the power to co-opt members.
However, the issues would all be considered in full by the scrutiny committee.
What was the cost of
the postal election?
by staff reporter
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LIBERAL Democrat councillors are demanding to know how much it cost to organise this year’s postal elections in Warrington.
Coun Peter Walker said the cost of the election would not have been included in the council’s budget at the start of the year.
He would like to know how much it had cost, compared to the cost of a traditional election and also compared to the cost of previous elections.
The cost of publicity for the postal elections should also be included, said Coun Walker.
He also asked if the council would be making a claim from the Government towards any additional costs.
“I suspect the cost of the postal election will have exceeded the cost of a traditional election,” he said.
Coun John Morris, executive member for resource and performance, said he did not have details of the costs available but would provide them later.
He stressed that the postal election had been a pilot arrangement and that the cost was not the only issue.
“It was an attempt to reinvigorate the democratic process,” he said.
People can have
a say on policing
by Lesley Wilkinson
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PEOPLE in Warrington are being invited to have their say on policing – both on high profile cases and on local issues.
A public meeting will be held at the Pyramid Centre, Warrington, from 7.00pm on Tuesday July 27.
The Warrington Police Forum will offer people the opportunity to question officers on high profile operations, police performance, and local policing.
Peter Walker, Police Authority member and forum chairman said: “I hope the people of Warrington come along on Tuesday night to raise any issues they may have on policing.
“The meeting gives them the ideal opportunity to meet with, and speak to the local police commander Superintendent Julia Clayton. Anyone can attend these meetings and I would urge all of those who have an interest in policing to do so,” he added.
Action group will
study traffic
by Lesley Wilkinson
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AN ACTION group to look at traffic problems in Warrington – including delays caused by the Manchester Ship Canal, rush-hour queues and public transport difficulties – has been formed.
Liberal Democrat councillors in the town have set up a Transport Policy Task Force, to be led by Coun Brian Axcell. Members will look at current council policies and consult with residents to ensure policies reflect their needs. Other members are Councillors Barbara Mawer, Colin Oliver, Ray Hancock and Ted Finnegan.
Coun Axcell said: “Warrington is a great town but is being choked by the short term thinking of this council. Transport problems in Warrington will never go away but they are guaranteed to bring this town to its knees if nothing continues to be done.
“It is high time that this council addresses the issue and proposes the new and radical solution the town needs and its residents so richly deserve,” he added. Other issues the group will look at includes road works, the placement of traffic lights, transport for school children and rush hour “rat runs” and their safety implications.
Coun Axcell said: “Geographically Warrington has an inherent problem, it is split in two by the Manchester Ship Canal. So when a container ship passes through Warrington, the already stretched road system grinds to a sudden and abrupt halt. There is then a single bridge that links the north to the south, a bridge that is in desperate need of repair.”
[ 17.08.2004, 09:00: Message edited by: DS ]
