NHS and America

The current uproar in America about allowing all Americans having access to health care available from state funding rather than just retirees has crystallised for many Brits arguments about the NHS. For some, notably from the Tory party, its highlighted their true beliefs that the NHS should be dismantled. For many others we’ve heard deeply affecting stories of how the NHS has saved lives for all parts of society.

Several arguments that persuade me that a NHS system is best for individuals and society. A close friend took up a job in the states that came with medical health insurance for him and his family. The day he took up his new job his young child became dreadfully ill and spent a month in Boston’s children’s hospital. If she’d become ill a day earlier they would have been financially ruined by the medical bills. We are so lucky that we don’t live under the shadow of such fear. Even where medical insurance is in place the fine print will often mean it doesn’t pay out.

A few facts the World Health Organisation and Commonwealth Fund have reported:

US healthcare spend 16% of GDP, England 8.3%

US Life expectancy 77 years, England 78 years

US acute bed/1000 people 2.8, England 3.6

US average length of stay acute care 5.6 days, England 3.6 days

US under 5 mortality/1000 live births 9, England 6.

So we spend roughly half the cash but get better results.

Hopefully in America common sense will prevail rather than a poverty aspiration amongst the rich and powerful.

Hopefully the exposure of many Tories uncosted views on the NHS will ensure common sense. We can’t afford as a nation to double health spending for poorer results emulating the states.

It means that the Dulwich Hospital isn’t directly competing with Kings College Hospital for custom. But instead conitnues to compliment each others work.

East Dulwich Leisure Centre

In January the East Dulwich Lib Dem councillors supported the planning application for the £6.5M renovation of the East dulwich Leisure Centre but asked that the scheme should be rejected if as planned due to the buildings heritage the pool roof wasn’t insulated. The main planning committee added a condition that this should be assessed and if practical roof insulation included.

What a relief – we’ve just been told that although insulating the roof will add 4 weeks to the centres closure it can and will be insulated. So I’d like to apologise for the extra 4 weeks the pool will be closed but the reduced CO2 emissions will make this really worthwhile.


Ensuring maximum insulation, as per this condition, is crucial to Southwark Council helping fight global warming.
The £6.5M renovation will be fantastic and will once again become the truely great facility it once was.

(East) Dulwich Baths

Dulwich Baths is one of the jewels of East Dulwich. It was built by that breed of municipal Victorian politicians who took a real pride in their community and were determined to improve the lives of local people at a local level.

But just like our great Victorian parks, Dulwich Park and Peckham Rye Park, Dulwich Baths were neglected to a scandalous extent  – seemingly by every generation that followed them.

The parks have been beautifully restored over the past few years and now the spotlight is falling on the Dulwich Baths.

As local councillors, we have been campaigning with local residents to save the pool – and it has been a very popular cause!  Happily Southwark council is funding a multi-million pound refurbishment.

The building’s charm also makes refurbishment a difficult job but the plans include improved changing facilities, a café and poolside viewing area and an expanded gym.

Planning permission for the work was granted earlier this year and the refurbishment works have now begun. This means that the pool has been taken out of service but the good news is that despite the scaffolding, gym facilities will be available throughout the refurbishment works.

The final scheme also has great green credentials with a dramatic reduction in the energy required to heat and light it. Modern insulation has been used where ever possible.

The new swimming facilities should be available from spring 2010 and I’m sure will be well worth the wait. After all we’ve waited over a hundred years for this sort of investment!

Air pollution kills at least 3.2% of Southwark residents

The GLA has issued a report about air pollution – available here.

It claims at least 3,000 people die prematurely in London each year due to air pollution. to make matters worse this is based on average air pollution for England. We all know London air quality is some of the worst in England.

– 3,000 amongst 7 million population.
– Southwark’s population is 270,000 people.
– Life expectancy in Southwark is around 75 years.
– QED 3.2% at least of the Southwark population will die prematurely due to air pollution.

Truly frightening.
What is Boris doing to lead and help on this issue….accelerating traffic across London by reducing pedestrian crossing times.

Why does government blocks anit fuel poverty bill?

On Friday the Labour government blocked a bill to end fueld poverty by 2016. Fuel poverty is wher epeople have to decice whether to eat of heat their homes. Erradicating fuel poverty involves installing lots of insulation. Installing insulation is labour intensive. Saving fuel bills reduce climate heating. People without either enough heat or food are more likely to be ill or stay ill or worse.

The bill has the support of Help the Aged, Friends ofthe Earth and many other worthy organisations.

It seems truly bizarre that a Labour government blocked such a clear anti povery measure that helps prevent people being ill, fight climate heating and creates employment very efficiently.  

Dulwich Leisure Centre – complete renovation approval

Tuesday night the culmination of three years hard work from East Dulwich councillors and council officers, planning permission for the complete renovation of the council Leisure centre in East Dulwich was given. Phew.

The original recognition came during the East Dulwich campaign in January 2006 that the centre was sub standard and unacceptable. It hadn’t had major investment in over fifty Labour years. On the door steps and in resident surveys many had expressed dissatisfaction. Our own personal experiences bore this out.

So the new renovated leisure centre will have a new DDA compliant entrance on Crystal Palace Road. The swimming pool will have more space around the actual pool making circulation easier and only for actual swimmers. It will also have a proper viewing area so parents can see their kids learning to swim. The pool will be changed from 27m to competition sized 25m. The main gym will be revamped. New dance studios and a cafe.

Overall it is anticipated that the numbers of users will increase to around 50,000 a year. Over half already walk to the centre. 8/9 schools that use the centre walk already.

Wherever possible insulation to modern standard will be installed. New air recycling and heat exchangers and plant. Overall a dramatic reduction in the energy used and CO2 produced to run the centre.

Cllr Richard Thomas and I persuaded the planning committee that the plans needed to have added roof insulation above the swimming pool and gym hall.

This scheme is one of the reasons I enterred local politics. Making sure local services are something we can all be proud of.

World Kidney Day – 14 March 2009

World Kidney Day, which takes place on 12 March this year, is designed to raise awareness about how import kidneys are crucial role in keeping us alive and well. The day is also to help spread the word that kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable.
The theme is “Keep the Pressure Down” highlighting the importance of high blood pressure as one of the key symptoms and causes of chronic kidney disease.
Many people who suffer kidney problems are children and ensuring we all keep hydrated is crucial to healthy kidneys.

Kids Kidney Research have put together a information pack aimed at primary school children, with a selection of fun and exciting ideas on how to mark this important day which can be found at http://www.worldkidneyday.org/

Hopefully many Primary schools in Southwark will be taking part.