‘Our trade outside the EU is greater than you think’

I WOULD like to reply to my friends Frank Opitz of Leek, Geoff Preston of Cheddleton and of course Margaret Brown of Burslem, regarding their letters in the Post & Times.

Mr Opitz mentions his employers’ goods being held up in customs, well let’s see, my employers’ goods were held up in customs mainly due to the fact that they were manufactured in China, Japan and the USA.

It didn’t stop my company being very successful in its field.

As long as you plan ahead there shouldn’t be any issues.

If we look at other goods bought into this country – iphones, ipads, Samsung smart phones, TVS and white goods, Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic not mention digital cameras all bought in their millions, all manufactured outside the EU.

It doesn’t seem to be any problem for those companies importing them.

Margaret, you live in the Potteries – look what’s happened there? Apart from a few very small manufactures still left, most of our drinking cups, mugs, plates etc come from Asia. Textiles, the shirt on your back, jeans and trousers even trainers now made in India and the rest of the greater part of Asia.

Our trade outside the EU is greater than you think.

Why do you think Theresa May has been to see the presidents of China, America and elsewhere not to mention our friends in Canada, Australia and those countries in Africa – it certainly wasn’t for fun?

I would strongly suggest that all three of you get hold of a copy of England our England by Vernon Coleman regarding the ins and outs of the EU, it’s one of the scariest books ever published on what goes on in Brussels.

Finally I’m thinking of holding a Brexit party next March 29, all three of you would be welcome, all water under the bridge etc, with wine from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand along with good old British fair and the climax of the evening a small firework display at midnight. address of 251 Ashbourne Road, Leek, ensuring those born in the workhouse would not be stigmatised in later life.

To this day house, numbers jump from 151 to 253!

Local people experience this legacy, and the services of the Moorlands hospital first hand within generations of their own, their families and their friend’s experiences.

The threat of closure has seen the local community rallying together under the Action Group banner of ‘Save our Hospital,’ with committed support from Councillors Pamela Wood, Charlotte Atkins and Stephen Wales.

The inpatient services at Leek Moorlands Hospital have supported countless older people, either through their rehabilitation on their journey home, or with expert care for patients and families at the end of their lives.

This care is significantly improved when it is easily accessible to the patient’s own community and family.

The impact of travel to large hospitals is significant in term of finance, time, transport, and efficient use of services for older people, their carers, especially where those care givers who have young families.

The closure of beds results in a significant increase in older people being admitted to the City Hospital’s acute wards.

With growing financial pressure on these hospitals the aim is to send patients home faster.

This has a potential impact on patient recovery, readmission, and community care, together with an impact on carers who may already have pressures of family care, limited income and job security pressures.

Large hospital have a further issue of what is termed ‘bed blocking.’

This costs the NHS tens of millions of pounds annually, specifically where acute beds are blocked by older people unable to go home.

This is not the older persons fault, they have been let down by the closure of facilities in their communities. They are not a statistic, they are people, older people with history, who have made major contributions to their community in through their work, their social lives and their families, who continue to contribute to future plans for their community.

Open the wards, expand the services, be creative! Include community groups, schools, colleges, businesses.

Our local college offers courses in Health and Social Care, preparing professionals who will care for Leek residents in the years to come.

The hospital should be a vital resource in offering clinical placements and ‘real life’ experiences to these students.

The alternative may be profitable for some. Privately owned nursing and care homes, albeit caring, may benefit from the closure of a community hospital we should all treasure.