Scrutiny and healthcare in Derbyshire

Today was the first meeting of the Improvement and Scrutiny Committee for Health in the new Council.

The process felt slightly strained with councillors in the Council Chamber in Matlock and all of the health professionals in zoom from afar.  

I was able to ask a fair few questions and pressed Sharon Martin, the Executive Chief Operating Officer of the Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust on the plans to catch up on planned care. There is of course a huge backlog in the aftermath of Covid but I remain sceptical that the recovery cab be so easily handled. We were told that going from 6 operating theatres to eleven at Chesterfield was possible and planned but I have asked that the transition be reported to the next meeting.

Further, I asked about the waiting times for ophthalmology and questioned whether it was accurate that from a waiting time of 18 weeks it has dropped to 11 weeks. Again I have asked for the numbers to be checked but I remain sceptical that this is accurate.

When it came to mental healthcare there is welcome investment in the provision and quality of care for the Hartington suit at Chesterfield and this is to be in place by Spring 2024. Whilst there is no reduction in the provision I questioned Andy Harrison and Mick Burrows if it was likely that we would not need additional mental health bed capacity in three years time and that in fact we would quite quickly see we had greater need than now.  I was assured it was suitable and that there is recruitment of mental health nurses who will deal with community care (as it were) but I will keep a close eye on this as again I found myself being sceptical.

The final issue we discussed was around dementia care and I raised what seems to be the presumption that those who are married or partnered to anyone with dementia is assumed to be the carer. I was told by Mike Hammond that this was not the presumption, but my experience and feedback from residents suggests otherwise.

More to follow on all of these but this hopefully gives you in insight into the issues and the opportunities we have as councillors to ask and to challenge.

We have been asked to put forward issues of healthcare for scrutiny and i have already flagged dentistry and how that is handled in Covid and via 111. What issues would you like me to raise?

Asking the questions...

I discover that as a Group Leader of a Minority I have the right to attend the Cabinet of Derbyshire County Council and ask questions.
The next meeting is this Thursday but I’m unable to be there and so have tabled some written questions and I will get written answers in due course:

1. Minutes 79/21 (page 6)
Does this mean that HIV PrEP is now available on prescription in all of Derbyshire’s sexual health clinics to all of those who need it, request it or are prescribed it? Can the review of this trial be brought forwards so there is a seamless provision beyond March 2022 if it is to be continued past that date?

2. Minutes 20/21 (page 14)

To ask if the Arts, Health and Wellbeing work planned could especially focus on hard to reach communities including the isolated, lonely and LGBT+ residents and those most vulnerable to suicude risk and mental health difficulties as this has been a particular consequence of the Pandemic and lockdown restrictions? 

3. Universal Funding for Drug Treatment (p.137)
Given it has not been possible to undertake a full consultation, will the Council undertake to proactively communicate the effect and consequences of this funding with those members who are interested in such interventions and whose communities are directly impacted/affected?

4. Future Development of Bus Services in Derbyshire (p.193)
Noting that the Council must publish a Bus Service Improvement Plan by 31st October. Will the Council undertake immediate consultation with all of Derbyshire’s Parish and Town Councils and with all Districts and Boroughs on the proposals highlighting both the opportunities and risks of this initiative?

Hello Mister Leader

Today I got the x17 bus from Chesterfield to Matlock in order to meet with the Conservative Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Cllr Barry Lewis

I’m a new councillor, a new Group Leader and seeking to learn fast. But I’m also aware that I have to take every opportunity available to me.

This morning my agenda with the Leader, beyond the wider scene setting of being a councillor on Derbyshire,  covered Community Orchards, Unitary Status, the River Holmebrook and Biodiversity, Derbyshire’s Poet Laureate, musicians in residence, buskers, HIV PrEP, Bus services and climate change.

An unlikely list but a signal of the range of topics that I will be taking up and fighting for investment, improvements and attention.

Our Gang of Four

Each councillor is elected as an individual - I am a Liberal Democrat and represent Loundsley Green and Newbold...

But I am also elected to Derbyshire County Council and have a duty and responsibility to think about the wider and whole picture of the entire county of Derbyshire.

This is often very acute with, for example, our responsibility for looked after children where each of us has a corporate responsibility for those in our care. I use this example when people ask what is the point of local government. We are the front line in the support and welfare of some of those who need help the most and who sometimes have no-one else.

But further, we operate as a political group and I have the good fortune and privilege of leading the four Liberal Democrats who are on the county council.

We try and speak as a team, we liaise between ourselves and we work together. This tries to give us a stronger and more effective voice for those we represent.

My Liberal Democrat

colleagues are Cllr Sue Burfoot, Cllr Paul Niblock and Cllr Barry Bingham.

Books and the telephone box

For reasons of my equality campaigning and my love of Edward Carpenter I often find myself in the Derbyshire village of Millthorpe.

The telephone box there has been converted into a book exchange that is, after Covid-19, being gradually moved back into active use. This is a good thing. Books are to be encouraged.

In my work I also run Brockwell Books of Chesterfield - a small stall on Chesterfield’s open air market every Thursday and Saturday.

Book reading is to be encouraged and so I’m making an open offer to any Derbyshire community telephone box book exchange - if any of you want a new refresh of books then let me know and I will happily drop a box of random books, in good condition, round to you for your community. There will be no charge,  

Us booksellers have to encourage reading and support bibliophiles and I seek to do what I can.

You can get in touch on Ed.fordham@gmail.com

Proud and Inclusive

I’ve been an active and out member of the LGBTQ+ communities for many years now, but I’m very aware that for many people, many organisations and many traditions this is a different land.

For many LGBTQ+ campaigners sport has been a difficult sphere... There are too few out sports men and women, too few safe spaces and too little engagement.

Here in Chesterfield we have one of the largest, more colourful and impressive Pride festivals and this year is scheduled for Sunday 18th July. The event will be on Stand Road Park and everyone is welcome - just go on-line and buy a ticket and you and your friends and family will be more than welcome.

But the bigger challenge is to get the wider community to engage and join in the celebration and to roll back the fear of hate and anger and enable greater and deeper inclusion.

This year Chesterfield Football Club have been stepping up to the plate. They have been visible and demonstrative on their commitments and you can now go into their Superstore Shop and buy three different rainbow badges.

https://www.facebook.com/118795128155574/posts/4057978767570504/?d=n

Thank you Spireites.

As a club for whom Thomas Hitzlsperger played Chesterfield FC have a duty to reflect on the difficulties on being out and gay and identify with the LGBTQ+ communities. Thomas came out after his retirement and is to this day the highest-profile male footballer to do so.

Go on, go and buy a badge - this tiny gesture is a key signal to enable people to be themselves and achieve the talent and ability. 

Welcome to Pride Month (June)

LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) month is celebrated in the month of June to honour the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, USA.  The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognise the positive impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally and internationally.

Here in Derbyshire we have a strong and virbrant lgbtq+ community that is both growing and emerging. Support for young people is provided by Derbyshire LGBT+ which has on-line facilities as well as offices in Chesterfield and Derby.

There are Pride Festivals in Derby (4th September), Belper (21st-22nd August) and Chesterfield (Sunday 18th July).

In addition, there is the ongoing project to raise awareness of the life and work of Edward Carpenter (1844-1927) who lived in Derbyshire as an openly gay man, with his life partner George Merrill.  This year on Sunday 29th August we will have the 2nd Edward Carpenter Equality Walk from Chesterfield to Millthorpe.

You can sponsor this event here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/carpenterwalk?fbclid=IwAR0VaPU6ObJUvBaTXV4j5nghbvDt-SBFatYmIougYKJwtoqRWPmZHUyuoLc