Row over hospital merger
plan reaches Parliament
by David Skentelbery
THE row over the future of Warrington Hospital has figured in a debate in Parliament.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones ? who is furious over proposals to merge North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust with Whiston Hospital, on Merseyside ? accused health bosses of drawing up plans by ?stealth.?
She was speaking in a debate instigated by her colleague, Rosie Cooper, who also believes health chiefs are colluding over deals to merge hospital trusts.
Ms Jones (pictured)quizzed Health Minister Liam Byrne ? who was actually born in Warrington Hospital ? about the affair.
The Warrington MP said plans for the merger were ?undertaken by stealth, without any community engagement” and accused the Strategic Health Authority of “skewing the evidence” to achieve the outcome it wanted.
Mr Byrne said he was pleased Warrington Hospital had been mentioned because he had been born there.
He agreed Ms Jones that merger talk could divert attention from tackling the real problems trusts faced and assured her that the SHA would have to show that any conclusions they reached would be “demonstrably in the patients interest.” He said he would hold the SHA to that criteria.
Mr Byrne went on to say that any future plans would have to satisfy three tests. Firstly they must be consistent with the NHS plan on care close to home; secondly, they must unequivocally produce better standards of care; and thirdly any proposals must be subject to a full public consultation.
He said managerial convenience was not one of the tests the proposals must pass, there must be no ?fait accompli, no cabals and no decisions made behind closed doors.?
Later Ms Jones said: “I think we are making progress. The Minister clearly spelled out to the SHA and others that bureaucratic convenience is not the way to proceed.
?These secret proposals for Warrington hospital should now be made public so that we can see exactly what the SHA are up to. I don’t think that such proposals would stand up to the tests the minister outlined.
“I am sure that having been born in Warrington the minister will take a keen interest in any future plans for our hospital.”
Internet poll names
drink-drive hotspot
by David Skentelbery
AN internet poll has shown that the A49 Winwick Road, Warrington is the road most people think police should target in their anti-drink driving campaign in the run-up to Christmas.
People were invited to vote on the Cheshire Police website, Warrington-Worldwide and two other websites.
Police say the final vote was close ? but the public singled out Winwick Road as the one police should concentrate on.
Warrington-Worldwide Readers? Forum users voted 53 per cent in favour of Winwick Road, 27 per cent in favour of Bridgefoot and 20 per cent in favour of the A50 Kingsway South.
It was the first time police had asked the Warrington public to decide where they should target their resources.
The shortlist of three was chosen by police, based on collision statistics and officers? knowledge of hotspot areas.
Sgt Mike Jones, of the Warrington Police traffic department, said: “The message behind this year’s campaign is simple – if you drink and drive you will be caught, if you drink to excess and drive the morning after you will be caught and brought to justice.
“We would like to thank everyone who has supported our campaign by voting. Local knowledge is a vital part of our intelligence gathering and it’s important the public tell us about drink drivers so that we can stop them, bring them to justice and make the roads safer for everyone.?
Students launch their
own dance company
by staff reporter
A GROUP of budding dance students from the performing arts department at Warrington?s Priestley College are taking a big step into the real world with the formation of their own company.
The ?magnificent six? were all selected via audition and have big plans both in the short and long term as they aim to make “Oxygen” well recognised both in the local vicinity and further afield.
Having only been in existence for a matter of weeks the students have already produced a range of contemporary pieces which got their first public viewing to a packed audience in the college hall.
Before the end of term Oxygen also have a date pencilled in at UCLAN and also hope to perform and run workshops at local feeder schools in the area come the New Year.
Dance tutor and choreographer Lucinda Doyle said: “The idea of setting up this company for extra curricular work is completely new. Having stepped into the unknown the initial results have been exciting.
“The dance style is somewhat unique, in that it is based on a post-modern contemporary ethos which incorporates multi-media. The students have worked really hard on the project and we look forward to plenty of community orientated performances and workshops in 2006.”
Teenagers charged
with club burglary
by staff reporter
THREE teenage boys are to appear before Warrington Youth Court charged with the burglary.
The youngsters were arrested following the theft of a leaf blower, worth ?700, from a tennis club at Stockton Heath.
All three are currently on bail, subject to curfews, and are due to appear before the court three days before Christmas.
Hospital lottery
WINNING numbers in the weekly lottery run by the League of Friends of Warrington Hospital were 1,2,10 and 11 – but there was no winner and the jackpot will be “rolled over” to next week.
There were two winners in the draw for the special ?250 Christmas Jackpot – T Howard and C Worsick. The winning numbers were 4,8,13 and 15.
Next week’s jackpot will be ?350 and there will be a special ?100 bonus draw.
