‘MP should be attending meetings, not presenting prizes’

THIS is an OPEN letter to Karen Bradley, MP.

The special meeting of Leek Town Council three weeks ago for the public to discuss the future of our local health facilities was a turning point.

The council chamber was packed to capacity and many people were turned away.

People wanted to know what Councillors were doing to represent them.

Our health services are under attack. First the beds closed, then physiotherapy and phlebotomy (blood-testing) relocated, and seven weeks ago the CCGS attempted to relocate by stealth 10 important outpatient services.

The CCG acted by stealth, behind-the scenes, without public consultation – and beyond their legal mandate.

With the evident determination of public opinion councillors responded by resolving they will fight for the future of the hospital and its services – to serve the town and the Moorlands community.

A number of key people were invited and it was hoped that you might have attended, since a number of people were aware you were in Leek that day, and there was disappointment with the announcement that you could not.

For those attending, and the whole community, the future of our local health services is the most important local issue.

You gave an apology in the P&T, and said that you felt that your time was better spent in talking to those who make the decisions, and not ‘grandstanding at a public meeting.’

But this was no grandstanding event – this was the most humbling of occasions – where town councillors heard questioning from the whole chamber about people’s hardships and real concerns – who are very anxious for their health services on which many people rely.

They called for more representation from their elected representatives at the Town Council and the District Council, and it was a message for you as our representative in Parliament.

You have a key role to play: the CCG is answerable only to Government, via the Health Secretary, and people are looking to you to represent them and defend our health services.

I have asked you for help for the Moorlands community on a number of occasions - to reinstate the beds and services, and to end the contemptuous behaviour of the CCG – but you have ignored these issues.

The CCG has closed the beds with no legal basis.

You have reported many times having briefings with health officials – but we’ve never heard of any outcomes from your meetings which might benefit the community.

You referred to making the best use of your time.

We would like your attendance at many of our local events but, given your pressures, would suggest that some of your functions (opening new businesses, presenting prizes, celebrations) could be carried out by other local dignitaries, giving you time to prioritise helping with the major issue facing the community – helping end the abuse of the CCG and their dismantling of our health services.

The Town Council meeting was a turning point.

The public want to know what our elected representatives are doing to represent them – to halt the dismantling of our health facilities and put an end to the CCG’S abuse.

We know the CCG will only listen to Government, and it is only through yourself by direct contact with the Health Secretary that we can make our voices heard.

The CCG is not open and not respectful. It shows contempt for the public and their objections and pleas.

It is abusing the Moorlands community in progressively closing our health services behaving in an unregulated way outside any legal framework, and such behaviour is clearly against the public interest.

If you do not speak out against the CCG on our behalf then you are condoning their actions and behaviour. The public are asking for clear leadership: for openness and honesty, but especially for advocacy from our leaders to fight on our behalf to safeguard our local health services.

We look forward to your response, and would you please let people know that you will take up these issues with the Health Secretary.

It would be beneficial if you would publish your reply in this newspaper to keep the public informed. of questionable information. Pam Wood is doing a very good job of trying to keep the hospital open and deserves all the support we can give her.

We have lost another shop on the main street and I feel angry when I hear that the extortionate rates were a big factor in its demise.

We have lots of charity shops who don’t pay the full amount of the rates. This is so wrong, if they paid the full amount maybe this would offset some of the cost to other ratepayers.

I personally do not support the charity shops, other than the cat shop. I think that when a CEO is paid in excess of £200,000 a year this becomes big business.

I often wonder why people work in these shops for no pay so the CEO can have a good living.

The town is gridlocked most days. I think if they put back that which they took away it would help. Why have we got that stupid bollard at the bottom of Stockwell Street? If it was removed and the lights put back to two phases it would rid some congestion