Residents given voice
on health care plans
by Terry Johnson
RESIDENTS of Warrington’s fastest-growing area are to be asked whether they want an ‘all embracing’ new health centre – providing treatment clinics, mental health nursing and surgery facilities for operations, like vasectomies.
Primary Care Trust plans for the new Chapelford urban village propose completion of a health centre by early 2008.
People moving into the newly developing ‘village’ on the former Burtonwood airbase and also those living in Whittle Hall, Great Sankey North and South, Penketh, Cuerdley and parts of Burtonwood/Winwick are being consulted on the health agency’s plans.
The first option is for a small, modern health centre replacement for the present Chapelford Primary Care Centre on Burtonwood Road. This would provide clinical and nursing services.
The second option is for a larger health complex, providing services to the whole of west-Warrington.
These would include physiotherapy, podiatry, speech and language therapy, nurse-led treatment clinics, mental health nursing, minor surgery, dermatology and some diagnostic procedures.
By centralising services in Chapelford, the PCT sees reduced waiting times benefits for patients, more choice in appointments and equal access for everyone.
Healthcare staff working in larger teams would share knowledge and expertise, leading to improved service quality.
The PCT says: “A similar model is now working in central Warrington, with opening of a health centre at Wolves, the Halliwell Jones RL Stadium, in April.
“There have already been improvements to some waiting times and patients have more choice of appointments”.
Chief Executive, Allison Cooke,(pictured) said people’s views were vital to developing the right services for communities in west-Warrington.
“There are real benefits in developing a larger facility in Chapelford – but it will mean some people may have to travel further.”
A survey of 2,000 Warrington people had shown that waiting times, choice in appointments and quality of care were more important than services being close to where people lived.
Two public meetings are to be called to discuss the Chapelford options. Consultation continues until December 1.
Benefit cheat claimed
?7,000 in benefits
by John Hendon
A WOMAN who falsely claimed more than ?7,000 in benefits has been sentenced to 80 hours Community service and ordered to pay back the money.
Kelly Neild, 29, of Manchester Road, was sentenced at Warrington Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to three offences of failing to declare a change in circumstances.
Between July 2003 and July 2004 Neild defrauded the Council of ?784.81 Council Tax Benefit and ?3,330.84 Housing Benefit and the Dept of Work and Pensions of ?3,127.76 Income Support.
In addition to the 80 hour Community Punishment Order she was ordered to pay ?75 costs.
Adrian Webster, the Council’s Benefits Manager, said: “Benefit cheats are not just defrauding the government, but their own tax paying neighbours and communities. With the new methods of data matching we are using, the obvious message to benefit cheats is – ‘you will be caught’.”
Fraud Operations Manager for the DWP Roy Paul added: “The public is fed up with cheats who steal money from the taxpayer when it should go to those in genuine need of help.”
People in Warrington can give information about alleged fraudsters free and in confidence on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854440.
Rotary club helps get air
ambulance’s rotors going!
by staff reporter
THE Rotary Club of Lymm has presented ?1,000 to the North West Air Ambulance (NWAA), the region’s only air emergency service.
Members of the Club travelled to the NWAA’s airbase in Blackpool to present the cheque to NWAA paramedics and were also given a tour of the aircraft and an insight into the work of the charity from the aircrew’s point of view.
Gary Skentelbery, a member of the Lymm Rotary Club commented: “The North West Air Ambulance chief executive visited our club to give us a presentation on the service. Members were so astounded that the charity receives no mainstream funding, that the whole Club felt we should help.
“Some members were aware The North West Air Ambulance had attended serious road traffic accident in High Legh, recognising the importance of the Air Ambulance in our region. Visiting the base to hand over our cheque, and meeting the paramedics was a great privilege for our members and we hope our donation goes some way to keeping the service going in the future.”
Lymm Rotary Club’s donation was made from the Club’s charity account and will enable the helicopter to respond to between 5-6 life-saving incidents.
Lynda Brislin, charity chief executive of the NWAA commented: “We are extremely grateful for this donation from the Lymm Rotary Club and for their interest in the work that we do. It costs ?1 million a year to maintain the NWAA, and we rely solely on the generosity of businesses and the people of the North West to keep this vital service running seven days a week, 365 days a year. We are truly grateful for every penny and pound we receive.”
The NWAA covers Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria – an area of 5,500 square miles and a residential population of seven million people. The NWAA responds to all major motorway incidents, all serious accidents including horse riding, rugby, cycling, serious road accidents and incidents in areas that have poor restricted road access including golf courses, fells, woods or beaches. On average the NWAA is called out four times a day, rising up to ten in the summer.
Success story
goes up in smoke!
by John Hendon
A Warrington company which has seen searing-paced growth is raising the goalposts again!
CCTV manufacturer AD Group whose turnover has gone from ?930,00 in 1998 to a blistering ?93m, has acquired all the share capital of Detector Technologies Ltd, of Alton, Hampshire.
A world leader in video smoke and fire detection, D-Tec now becomes a fully-fledged subsidiary of AD Group, which provides CCTV systems for aircraft, transport and smoke detection.
Formed in 1997, AD Group came out top in the Deloitte Indy 100 award for the UK’s fastest growing companies.
Its lead shareholder is Mike Newton, who founded UK CCTV giant, Dedicated Micros, in 1982. It ranks No 1 globally for multi-channel digital video recorders.
Mike said the latest acquisition expands into new areas of smoke and fire detection.
D-Tec’s systems can identify early motion patterns of smoke – leading to faster alerts than ordinary smoke detectors where fumes need to reach the sensors.
Dave muscles in
on Olympic bid
by Gary Skentelbery
THERE will be no more working out in the gym or gruelling charity bike rides when Dave Latham flexes his muscles at the next Olympics.
Fresh from his bike ride across the Rockies for childrens charity Claire House Hospice, Dave is now preparing for the Dent Olympics in America in January 2006.
After eight years on the road as a mobile dent technician, Dave (pictured above) has now opened up a special service bay on the Bank Quay Trading Estate on Slutchers Lane.
While remaining on the road for trace and contract customers in the motor industry Dave is now available for members of the public to have their minor dings and dents repaired – with his no filler, no paint, no fuss, policy.
“Its made life a lot easier now having my own service bay,” said Dave who is loking forward to a second attempt at the Dent Olmpics which are taking place in orlando.
“I couldn’t take my own equipment last time but now I have got a special carrying case. I am really looking forward to the challenge. Dent removal is big business in the States and I will be looking out for all the new techniques and tips.”
<
b>Rugby club has new
tractor for hire!
by Terry Johnson
THE very latest, state-of-the-art tractor delivered to Warrington RUFC could be used to up-grade sports pitches of other local clubs and schools.
The Rugby Football Union has invested ?500,000 in buying 15 of the super-tractors, fitted with the best pitch maintenance equipment.
One of the machines will be used by Warrington RUFC to secure grass-roots improvements at its ground. The tractor can also be hired at a fraction of commercial cost by other clubs and schools who want to substantially up-grade their pitches.
Peter Riley, RUFC chairman, said: “Looking after pitches is a priority to ensuring players enjoy their sport, surfaces are not destroyed and games cancelled.
“Drainage problems and poor grass cover can be due to soil compaction. This equipment combats that problem.
“It will also prove important as we manage our limited playing facilities to cope with increased new players, especially at junior level”.
Use of the specialist equipment is being extended to the cricket section at Walton Lea Road.
“We hope to act as host venue, serving a cluster of clubs and schools”, stated Mr Riley.
Any one interested in hiring the tractor should call Paul Agar on 0780 1300614.
