“Superbug” riddle
at town’s hospital
by John Hendon
THE level of infections of the hospital “superbug” MRSA at Warrington remains unclear, following conflicting reports from North Cheshire Hospitals Trust and the Department of Health.
While the Trust – which runs both Warrington Hospital and Halton General – announced a reduction in the number of cases, the Department of Health reported an increase.
Both sets of figures covered the Trust as a whole, so the position at Warrington specifically was not revealed.
Figures from the Department of Health stated that the North Cheshire Hospital Trust (NCHT) had 13 cases between April and September last year, compared with nine in the same period in 2003.
But NCHT said there had been 13 cases between April and October last year, compared with 15 in the same period the previous year.
NCHT chief executive Ian Dalton said: “This is excellent news. It is testimony to a great deal of work which has been undertaken throughout the Trust and highlights our commitment to improving standards of hygiene.
“Although rates have reduced, this gives no cause for complacency but rather a foundation on which to develop services and activities further” he added.
Mr Dalton said the infection control team monitored every case of MRSA identified while the patient is in hospital and advised staff and affected patients on the bacterium. The trust had a long-term strategy for the prevention and management of healthcare-associated infection which met Government guidelines.
He added: “Infection control is very much part of the culture at the Trust and we already have in place some very robust measures to protect patients. We’re looking forward to strengthening these throughout the year.”
NCHT claimed it now ranked 25th out of 110 general and acute Trusts, compared with 29th last year. It also claimed the MRSA level had been reduced by 48 per cent since 2001 when mandatory surveillance began.
Later, a spokeswoman for NCHT said the figures released by the Trust actually related to April-September last year and the previous six months – October 2003 to March 2004.
She said: “There have been ups and downs since 2001, but the overall reduction since 2001 is 48 per cent.”
Lorries should be
kept out of village
by Lesley Wilkinson
HEAVY lorries should be diverted away from Stockton Heath, near Warrington, to help rid the village of traffic “gridlock.”
This was suggested by members of Stockton Heath Parish Council during a lengthy debate about traffic problems at Victoria Square.
Members were told frustrated drivers were flouting the law by jumping red lights – even though the junction is immediately outside Stockton Heath Police Station.
Coun Patrick Mullee said drivers who didn’t understand the rules of a yellow box junction were adding to the congestion. This led to delays which led to many drivers jumping red lights.
Members complained that cars, buses and lorries were using surrounding streets – such as Orchard Street and Cawdor Street – as a way of avoiding the lights. They suggested that as there was no local industry, lorries did not need to use the village and should be diverted to other routes.
Martin McCannon, Warrington’s manager for urban traffic control said: “I am amazed there is a box junction right outside the police station, yet people are still flouting the lights.”
He said Victoria Square was a complex junction as it marked the intersection of two major roads, the A56 and A49 which had been at or beyond capacity for several years.
For pedestrian safety reason there had to be a period when the whole junction was closed. Because of this, the time lost at the junction had increased from 16 per cent to between 35 and 50 per cent now.
Any changes made to the lights would impact on other lights on London Road and Wilderspool Causeway but he agreed to take up members’ complaints with colleagues. He suggested a planned upgrade to the software operating the junction might offer improvement.
Coun Celia Jordan said: “This is a village for people to walk around. I know that people are irritated if they sit at the junction and there is no-one crossing. Sometimes the lights are on red for too long.”
“But people need to be patient and realise this is a village.”
Borough’s 15-year
blueprint launched
by staff reporter
A COMMUNITY blueprint has been developed that will shape the future of Warrington and its services over the next 10 to 15 years.
Developed by a wide range of organisations through the Warrington Partnership, the community strategy – entitled ‘Warrington – Towards Tomorrow’ – sets out a series of far-reaching proposals and priorities for Warrington.
Unveiled at Warrington Town Hall’ the strategy provides a framework to bring about new or improved ways of working between the major public service bodies, voluntary organisations and groups throughout the borough.
Warrington Partnership involves representatives from more than 80 organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Together, they have been working over the last 18 months to develop this strategy.
The mission throughout has been to create a framework for improved local services that will break down barriers, encourage greater shared and partnership working between organisations across the town and help improve the quality of life for everyone living and working in Warrington.
The strategy covers key issues such as health, community safety, education, jobs, business development, transport, housing and the environment.
It sets out a shared long-term vision for the future of Warrington and shorter-term priorities and actions, with targets to measure success.
Coun Paul Ross, chairman of the Warrington Partnership and deputy leader of the council, said: “The next 10 to 15 years will be an exciting time for Warrington. This community strategy, put together thanks to the dedicated hard work and commitment of so many people and organisations, provides a clear statement of our aspirations for the future and our priorities for achieving them.”
An annual review will check the progress being made against the targets set out in the strategy.
Market gets ready for
750th birthday bash
by staff reporter
WARRINGTON MARKET is to celebrate the ultimate in birthdays as it approaches its 750th year in service.
From yesteryear, when wares were delivered to the Market by horses, which trudged over cobbled streets to bring the finest in materials, food, drink and hardware to the people of Warrington.
It will be a yearlong celebration, beginning with the return of the Staffordshire Pot Fair on Monday May 9 for one week. This unique event, the origins of which are based in medieval trading fairs, presents quality china, porcelain, crystal glass, cookware, figurines and associated items from traditional wooden and canvas pot fair stalls, the likes of which you have never seen before!
May sees the Market getting back to its roots, as activities of the medieval variety take place in July, and moving into September with a series of guided tours to coincide with National Heritage days.
A council spokeswoman said: “It will be another 750 years before we can celebrate this way again, so make sure you pop along and join in the festivities!”
School welcomes visitors
from three countries
by staff reporter
A WARRINGTON primary school is to welcome visitors from three countries as the climax of an international project which allows staff and pupils to find out more about life in Europe.
The European school project has entered its final year with plans for Park Road Primary School, Great Sankey to play host to visitors from Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The project is a Comenius initiative, funded by the European Union to encourage schools to build links with member countries
in the EU. Its theme is, Everywhere a Quack-Quack!, and it will see schools produce an illustrated dictionary, song and storybook based on European animals.
During the first year of the project teachers from Germany and the Czech Republic visited Park Road Primary, and two Warrington teachers visited Hilden, Germany, later the same year. In 2004 two more Warrington teachers travelled to Poland.
This year is the finale of the project and teachers from Hilden, Strzegom, Poland, and Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, together with six pupils from Hilden will visit Warrington from Wednesday March 16 to Sunday March 20.
In May two teachers and four Year Six pupils will be selected to visit Hilden to bring the project to an end.
Helen Pegman, headteacher at Park Road, said: “This has been a wonderful project, which has created a genuine understanding of different cultures and lifestyle and, I feel, friendships.”
She said schools had enjoyed building links with other pupils and teachers.
“I am certain that these carefully forged links will continue well beyond the lifespan of the project and well into the future,” she added.
Warning over coal
compensation claims
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WARNING has gone out to people claiming compensation for health problems arising from working in the coal industry.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones is advising people not to allow solicitors to take costs out of their compensation in relation to claims registered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) under its coal health compensation scheme.
She said the Law Society has received hundreds of complaints about solicitors taking costs from the compensation, and this now has to be repaid. She said the DTI meets the solicitors’ costs separately.
” This is an issue which may effect some of my constituents. If they believe their legal representative is making deductions from their compensation via an additional fee or a union fee and did not advise them that they could use other representatives who are processing claims without making any deductions they should contact the Law Society.
“The Law Society will also accept complaints from MPs on behalf of their constituents so if people wish me to pursue the matter for them I would be happy to do so,” she added.
Complaints to the Law Society can be made by phoning 0845 608 6565 or by writing to Victoria Court, 8 Dormer Place, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 5AE.
Car torched
by thieves
by staff reporter
POLICE are investigating after thieves set fire to a stolen car at the rear of Wilderspool Causeway, Warrington.
The white Opel Kadet was found ablaze, its front passenger door forced and left open.
A Fire Service spokesman said: “Someone had piled waste paper on the seats and set it on fire. The car was completely destroyed.” In a separate incident, hooligans pushed two wheelie bins into Bewsy Park, off Haryngton Avenue, Bewsey and set them alight. Nearby bushes caught fire but there was no damage to the adjoining bowling green.
It was the latest in a series of similar incidents in the park.
