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I spoke to The Guardian about the rising numbers of homeless people who are being admitted to hospitals with largely preventable illnesses. Thousands of homeless people in England are arriving at hospital with Victorian-era illnesses such as tuberculosis, as well as with serious respiratory conditions, liver disease and cancer, with hospital admissions for such conditions surging over the last decade. It has been a tragedy to witness the rise in emergency department attendance and hospital admissions for the homeless. This winter, waiting rooms have been brimming with people desperate for treatment for chest infections. Furthermore, whereas previously drug and alcohol support was more readily available, long referral times and no access to a fixed address has meant many are lost in the system and unable to receive help when they reach crisis point. Read the full article here: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/20/nhs-england-figures-show-soaring-homeless-patient-numbers?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other Today I had the honour of seeing my photograph framed in Portcullis House for the first time, as part of the 209 Women Exhibition. The 209 portraits of all female MPs, captured by a collective of 209 UK based female photographers, marks the centenary of the first vote for women. I am incredibly proud to be part of such an amazing project, and be surrounded by these impressive women. We have come a long way, but there's still much more to be done! A constituent has been in touch to raise concerns regarding the quality of care provided at Brightwell Crescent. The care is provided by Hestia, who were awarded the contract around nine months ago.
I am told that since Hestia took over the provision, standards have dropped significantly. I understand residents are not receiving the required levels of support in undertaking basic daily tasks. I have also been informed that rooms are not cleaned to an acceptable standard and overall hygiene in the building is a major concern. I have outlined these concerns to Chief Executive of Hestia, Patrick Ryan, and I expect a prompt investigation. NHS staff were the previous care providers at Brightwell Crescent, and I have not been made aware of any such problems during this time. This raises the question: Why did Wandsworth Council award the contract to Hestia over the NHS? I have raised this query directly with Liz Bruce, Director of Adult Social Services for Wandsworth Council, and I have requested an overview of the tendering process. The decision to award Hestia this contract is indicative of the Conservative Council's commitment to privatisation of our local services. Tooting Parkrun turned 3 today, and even the chilliest weather couldn't keep us away! The organisers and volunteers do an amazing job of keeping the event going. It's a great, accesible way of keeping fit, so make sure you head to Tooting Common one weekend and get involved. Parkrun attracts people from all walks of life, all shapes and sizes, and you can run at your own pace with hundreds of other enthusiasts. Check out their Twitter page for more: https://twitter.com/Tootingparkrun Multi-sector working is crucial in tackling violent crime. This is why I held a summit in Tooting, bringing together our community groups and local authorities. Today, I urged the Government to implement a similar initiative nationwide. Watch the video here: twitter.com/DrRosena/status/1087393639196774401 Healthy eating and the education around keeping fit and healthy starts young. But the same time, 35,000 hours of PE are being cut from schools each year, and an increasing number of our leisure facilities are being closed. Today I spoke out against the Tory cuts depriving kids of sport in The Mirror. |
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