PPlog

In earlier PPlog posts I have campaigned against discrimination against people with mental health problems by NCODP and the inexplicable collusion with it by CEO Mark Harrison (in all other aspects a hugely respected campaigner for disability equality and human rights). This time however, it’s unqualified praise for NCODP and Mark for their stand against the proposed government actions creating disability inequality. The NCODP paper is posted below: Norfolk’s disability community fights back against government’s cuts to services and unfair, discriminatory and regressive policies Background The Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (NCODP) is a human-rights group controlled by disabled people and their organisations. NCODP organises and takes part in campaigns and run services that promote social equality and dignity for all disabled people. Introduction The new Coalition Government has taken a number of decisions that will negatively affect the life chances of disabled people. It is f

...that’s what we are here in Norfolk (and Suffolk of course). When Whitehall mandarins draw up their plans for forays out of London into the mist ridden caverns of the outback that is the rest of England, they conveniently slice off the bulge so they don’t have to enter our cul-de-sac of a county. They also don’t bother because they know Norfolk is Tory-Verging-on-Feudal. People here still doff their hats and curtsey to their betters, kissing boots and nether extremities. Unfortunately, that extends to our county LINk, the public watchdog for health and social care (soon to be Local HealthWatch). What I see - and this is naturally denied by those who do it - is some LINk members, far too cosy with NHS trust and local authority managers; including some members and the chair of the “Strategy Group,” the now seven person Star Chamber which decides everything that happens in the whole of Norfolk. There was horror and consternation when I suggested in a discussion about the objectives of a

I’ve posted below, a section from this week’s NSUN Bulletin. I think this is something that as many people as possible should respond to if we’re to try to keep our National Health Service and not find ourselves, by stealth, with a collection of private commercial organisations out to make a cash profit from our misery and ill-health. A very strong protest about this consultation is that once again ordinary service users and carers who live in rural areas are being excluded from providing live feedback. For example, If you look at the last event on the list you’ll see the venue is to be either Cambridge or Peterborough. Both of these are at inaccessible distances for most people around where I live. These things are arranged by ignorant citified mandarins who haven’t an inkling about ‘rural proofing.’ Consultation Events on the Health White Paper   The White Paper on Health has the potential to create one of the biggest changes to the structure and function of the NHS since it

The ConDems have set out plans for ‘Big Society’ and a rehashed NHS in which they are wanting as many people as possible to volunteer. In some cases the volunteering they want will threaten people’s livelihoods. For example, they want Local Involvement Networks (LINks) to become ‘Local Healthwatch’ and for the LINks volunteers to take over the jobs of the complaints advocates employed by the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS). I think we need to remind ourselves that there are basic volunteering principles at risk of roughshod riding. In 1990 a working party consisting of: Mr Geoffrey Drain Treasurer, The Volunteer Centre UK (Chair) Mr Clifford Blundell Association of Directors of Social Services Ms Vera Burns National Association of Voluntary Help Organisers Mr Bob Dickson National Association of Volunteer Bureaux Ms Ann Gibson Manufacturing Science Finance Union Ms Romayne Hutchison Advance Ms Kathryn Johnson Transport and General Workers' Union Mr Allan Kerr National