Wendy Alexander said

“It is disappointing that the Council is not listening more closely to what the users wish.  The users have explained how much they wish to stay together as a group with a staff team they know.  And given the staff savings involved in this closure/relocation exceed £320,000 per annum I am driven to the conclusion that financial considerations have been the reason behind this closure.

I know there are members of the Council who oppose this short-sighted decision but the SNP/Liberal Administration seems to have set its face against any re-think.

I regret the Council will not authorise a rethink.  Not much of a Christmas present for the elderly”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

For more information on this Press Release contact;

NAME Lorraine McFarlane
JOB TITLE:  Secretary
Wendy Alexander MSP
Tel: 0141 560 1025
E-mail address: lorraine.mcfarlane@scottish.parliament.uk

Wendy Alexander said

“The Education Minister says councils have enough money to maintain teacher numbers  so why has Renfrewshire cut 119 teaching posts on the last year alone?
A cut of 8% in the number of teachers in Renfrewshire secondaries means Renfrewshire secondary pupils have suffered the biggest cut in teachers in the whole of Scotland.

The First Minister is urging councils to employ newly qualified teachers. Yet in August Renfrewshire employed not one of 172 probationary teachers on a permanent contract.  No new teachers (ex probationers) in Renfrewshire were given a full time job in August.

Wendy challenged the local SNP Council.  If the Scottish Government has provided the money – why are Renfrewshire slashing teacher numbers?  How many of last years probationers have a full time job in Renfrewshire today.

Next Thursday SNP Councillors will have to provide an answer as to why they are cutting teachers and failing to employ new teacher.  Parents & Teachers deserve an explanation.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

New figures from GTC reveal one in five newly qualified teachers (last year’s probationers) across Scotland are unemployed.

I was recently at the nursery. I saw for myself the pregnant mums, grandparents and parents with more than one sibling taking their children to Glendee nursery.

Do the road’s department want stretched A&E depts to have more  new patients ? Refusing to grit the car park is an unacceptable health risk.  Forcing parents to park on the road is little better. It is always awkward getting very small children out of cars - better it is done in safety.

I have written to the council asking what is the practice at other nursery car parks and whether they will reverse this stupid decision right away?”

I had written to them urging them not to take this decision and my colleague Jim Sheridan organised a meeting top oppose the closure plans.

Wendy Alexander MSP said
“I am however encouraged we have secured the following vital concessions, that they will reconsider a new Post Office when the new town centre is built”.

Ends
Note to Editor

Post Office Ltd: Network Change Publication: Ayrshire…Renfrewshire – issued 081208 – ‘Post Office Limited has noted the regeneration taking place in the local area and is aware that Linwood is undergoing a significant period of change. Post Office Limited would be happy to have further discussions with stakeholders on the future provision of post Office products and services once the regeneration is at a more advanced stage.’

Wendy Alexander said:

“I welcome the fact Tweedie Hall will be open during much of the building phase because it will be the site of the new car park – and so need not be demolished till the last minute.  It is also good news for Linwood readers that the Library will move into the Tweedie Hall whilst the new Library is being built.

Now the challenge is to get the legal transfer to Tesco underway as soon as possible so the building work can finally start”.

ENDS

Scottish Labour sent a Freedom of Information request to Health Protection Scotland asking for the number of cases of Clostridium Difficile Associated Disease broken down by individual hospital, and the number of deaths where the infection was a contributory factor.

The agency responded in writing that “Health Protection Scotland does not hold the information you requested.

Wendy Alexander said

“Further to the September promise from the Health Secretary, in response to a question from me in the Parliament chamber that she would look at the issue I  will again ask her in the chamber tomorrow afternoon (04/12/08), when  will the Scottish Government introduce regular, public hospital by hospital reporting of Hospital Acquired Infection rates?

Health Protection Scotland is the organisation responsible for ensuring that our hospitals are clean and safe, but they have effectively admitted they don’t have a clue what is going on.
“I don’t see how Health Protection Scotland can’t protect the interests of patients if they don’t know how many infections there are in each hospital. Worse still, it seems that neither they nor Nicola Sturgeon have even asked for this essential information. This is a matter or real concern, which further underlines the need for an immediate public inquiry into C. difficile.”

Ends

Notes for editors:

Oral PQ from Wendy Alexander to Cabinet Secretary: Health and Wellbeing Question Time on 4 December 2008

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7719918.stm

Scottish Parliament Official Report 11th September 2008
10:14
Nicola Sturgeon: …  Hugh Henry made legitimate points on the nature of assessment and inspection in our hospitals, as did Wendy Alexander when she intervened on him. As I said in my opening remarks, the issue is under my active consideration.

Campaigning politician Wendy Alexander delivered this morning over 750 letters to Renfrewshire Council – letters she has gathered from Linwood residents asking them to “Give us our new Town Centre ASAP”

Wendy said

“Renfrewshire council planners have had the application for a new town centre for over 7 months.  They have had time enough to give it the go-ahead. People in Linwood are getting tired of the delays.

I have collected letters from hundreds of residents to demonstrate to the Council, that the people of the town wanted them to get on with it. My postcard campaign has had an amazing response. Nearly one in four Linwood homes has written back to me.  Today we are delivering over 750 Linwood letters to the Planning Department calling on them to “Say yes now to a new Linwood”

Wendy said thank you to all Linwood residents who have supported the campaign for a better Linwood.  And she issued a “Linwood shopping list” to keep the authorities on their toes

“The delays must stop. Here is my “Linwood shopping list”

1.    The Council’s planning board must give the go-ahead to the new shopping centre
2.    The legal transfer from the council to Tesco must now happen as quickly as possible
3.    The council tenants above the shopping centre should  be re-housed ASAP
4.    Tesco must start on site as soon as they can
5.    all the remaining shops to be temporarily re-housed nearby so these businesses can continue trading during the building period.
6.    Council to reverse its proposed closure of Linwood’s Daycentre – Kilallan

Editor’s note: see attached photo Wendy Alexander – over 750 A6 sized postcards (all stamped & posted into Wendy by 750 Linwood residents)  strung together with members of the Linwood Elderly Forum on Monday 1st Dec in Linwood Shopping Centre. Later postcard details forwarded to Planning Department.

“It’s great to have a Boots in Linwood. In the first week of opening sales are up. I took advantage of some two for one offers to buys some stuff for my twins and collect points!

Mums and the elderly will especially welcome the new look store with healthcare service and improved product range.

The figures obtained from Renfrewshire council reveal that Renfrewshire has cut 77 secondary teachers this year and 42 primary teachers. The fall in the number of secondary teachers in Renfrewshire is the sharpest fall in percentage terms, 8%, in the whole of Scotland

Wendy Alexander said

“This should concern us all. These cuts are hitting the frontline. Well over 100 teaching posts cannot be cut without damaging the quality of education our youngsters receive. It is a deep irony that a Scottish Government and Council who promised smaller class sizes are instead cutting teachers right across Renfrewshire.

The cuts are particularly deep in secondary schools.  Gleniffer is down 17 teaching posts this year alone.  Park Mains and Trinity by 11 teaching posts.  The council will not let teachers speak out against these cuts. If they speak up they are liable to be disciplined for breach of contract. So it is up to all the rest of us that care about Renfrewshire education to make the case for keeping teachers teaching.
As Renfrewshire council’s budget discussions get under way for next year, it is vital we build the campaign against even deeper cuts next year.”

ENDS:
SOURCE:

1. Renfrewshire Council Letter detailing school by school cuts (View this Press Release under Wendys Correspdance in Anti Education Cuts for additional tables detailing school by school cuts).

Wendy Alexander told the health secretary we know now that at the RAH

• One in Four beds are not far enough apart

• The cleaning budget per bed in real terms has been cut by £3855 over the last year

• Only one in five staff have had infection control training in the last year, despite the recent severe outbreak at the Vale of Leven

• Eighty eight cases of C-Diff were recorded at the hospital in six months from December 07 to May 08 this year

Wendy Alexander said:

‘It is about time the health Secretary committed to hospital-to-hospital reporting of infection rates. By  7 August the report on the outbreak at the Vale of Leven was received by Ministers. In September the Health Secretary promised, in response to a question from me in the Parliament chamber that she would look at the issue.  So why almost 3 months later are we still waiting for action on the vital matter of requiring hospitals to publicly report the number of CDiff cases?’

Ends

Notes for editors:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7719918.stm

Attached correspondence between Wendy Alexander & Cabinet Secretary Nicola Sturgeon September 08

Scottish Parliament Official Report 11th September 2008
10:14
Nicola Sturgeon: …  Hugh Henry made legitimate points on the nature of assessment and inspection in our hospitals, as did Wendy Alexander when she intervened on him. As I said in my opening remarks, the issue is under my active consideration.