86 bus route campaign

During 2016 local councillors and Labour Party members in Whalebone Ward Dagenham started campaigning to extend the number 86 bus route into Queen’s Hospital. There is currently no direct route for the people living in Chadwell Heath to get to Queen’s Hospital, leaving often elderly residents having to walk to the hospital from Romford Station. Whilst only 0.6 miles in distance, there are two busy junctions including a roundabout to navigate, with poorly lit underpasses which may be daunting for some residents.

Merry Christmas Dagenham and Rainham

As Christmas draws closer and 2016 comes to an end, I think it is important to remember all the victories we have shared in the past 12 months. Together we have successfully deferred many plans that would have seen our green spaces compromised across Rainham, South Hornchurch, and Elm Park at Ingrebourne Hill, Dovers Farm, and in Wennington Village. In Dagenham, after an 18 month campaign we secured the future of the iconic Civic Centre with Coventry University leasing the building to offer the boroughs first Higher Education facility.

Local pharmacies under threat in Dagenham and Rainham

This week the Government have announced that community pharmacies will face a 12% cut on current funding levels for the rest of this financial year, and a 7.4% cut on current levels the year after.

The pharmacy sector expect the effect of these cuts to be devastating and the government Minister previously responsible for pharmacy funding estimated earlier this year that up to 3,000, a quarter of all pharmacies, could close because of these cuts.

Local MP supports #StopTheCharge campaign

Jon Cruddas MP for Dagenham and Rainham has recently thrown his support behind a new campaign, which seeks to support people in debt crisis that suffer from mental health issues. The campaign has been launched by the Money and mental Health Policy Institute, and has brought cross-party support, as well as the backing of a number of charities such as Mind, Rethink and StepChange.

World Mental Health Day 2016

Monday 10th October (today) is World Mental Health Day, and with rising mental health issues nationally this year more charities and organisations are working together to raise awareness. This year the theme set by the Mental Health Foundation is psychological first aid, and they are encouraging ‘Tea & Talk’ events across the country to help raise awareness about the support that people can provide to those in distress. You can find out more about these events, and how to host your own by clicking HERE

Emergency paediatric services moved from KGH to Queen’s Hospital

In the London borough of Barking and Dagenham there are over 40 surgeries that operate 5 days a week; alongside the availability of 3 advice surgeries for residents within the borough and in the neighbouring borough of Havering.

However, health care is becoming a growing issue across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge [BHR]. Local Labour MP Jon Cruddas has recently spoken out about the cuts and reduction of services locally, highlighting that it is “becoming ever more difficult for residents to access good quality health care” in the local area.

Heathway Medical Centre ‘inadequate’ says CQC report

The Heathway Medical Centre located on Broad Street in Dagenham has unfortunately failed to meet targets following a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission. The GP practice has been ranked as ‘inadequate’ failing to meet any targets.

The main areas that are looked at during the CQC inspections are; safety, care quality, effectiveness, whether they are responsive and how well-led the facility is. They also look in-depth at specific areas of service such as elderly care, mental health care, families etc.

The practice has now been placed in special measures.

Number 5 Bus - Public Consultation

Over the last year a huge campaign has been run across the borough to get the number 5 bus rerouted so that it stops at Queen’s Hospital in Romford. The number 5 goes straight through the borough and would be of great benefit for people, meaning that residents would only have to take one bus rather than changing – or making the walk from Romford town centre.

Jon Cruddas MP becomes Breast Cancer Ambassador

Jon Cruddas, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, has demonstrated his support for women with breast cancer by becoming a parliamentary ambassador for leading charity Breast Cancer Now.

Jon joins 200 MPs across the country who are pledging their support to Breast Cancer Now – the UK’s largest breast cancer charity – to remind fellow politicians and constituents alike that breast cancer is not a ‘done deal’ and that immediate action must be taken to stop the disease taking lives. 

Carers' Week 2016

Last week was Carers’ Week all around the UK. Carers’ week is a week of recognition dedicated to all the help and support that carers provide for their charges. It doesn’t matter if the carers are professionals, or if they a friends and family looking after a loved one. This week is all about raising awareness of the valuable contribution these people having in the community, alongside promoting the support that carers of all ages might need.

Pages