News Andy Burnham MP for Leigh

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18/11/2009 - A major boost for the regeneration of Leigh as major civil engineering work starts at Bickershaw South

The former pit site is owned by the North West Development Agency (NWDA) and the engineering works are being funded by the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) under its National Coalfields Programme which is helping to breathe new life into derelict coalfield communities across England.

The works package will provide for the reclamation of derelict land within the site, diversion of the existing Plank Lane, provision of site road infrastructure, and construction of a 40 berth marina on the Leeds – Liverpool Canal.

Andy Burnham MP believes it will signal a local ‘jobs boost’ for Leigh. The Leigh MP and Ian McCartney MP met with the then Housing Minister, Margaret Beckett MP earlier this year and presented a robust case for work to restart on site.

Andy Burnham MP said, “I have always seen this development as a crucial step in the ongoing regeneration of the Leigh area. When I heard news of the delay at Bickershaw South I was very worried about the impact on the local economy and I urged the minister to release funds to ‘kick start’ work on site."

“We’ve waited for this moment a long time and it’s a real confidence boost for Leigh coming at exactly the right time."

“The government is committed to helping areas like ours get through the current difficult times and that’s why I made a special plea to the minister to release public funds now."

“I am also delighted to hear that local people will be employed on site and that priority will be given to local recruitment – this is an early Christmas present for the Leigh area.”

Deborah McLaughlin, HCA’s Regional Director North West said, “It is great news that the regeneration work at Bickershaw South is now starting with the support of our investment. Bickershaw remains a major development priority for the HCA and this additional funding of £19.14m clearly demonstrates our commitment to the area. We will continue to work closely with our delivery partners to make sure that these resources really do bring about transformational change.”

Andy Burnham MP is campaigning for the site to include a memorial to its industrial heritage. He added, "There should be an appropriate memorial to link the new site with its past and remember the generation of Leigh men and women who worked here and, in some cases, were injured or sadly died.”

11/11/2009 - Fit Crew's Just Fab!

Andy Burnham MP has thrown his support behind a new fitness programme specifically aimed at young people.

Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is pioneering a new children’s fitness programme in Wigan and Leigh to tackle obesity in young people and encourage youngsters to live healthier lives.

On Saturday the Leigh MP praised the scheme at a special launch at Leigh Indoor Sports Centre. He said, “This borough has embraced the idea of creating a fitter country."

“It is leading the way and setting the exemplar for the rest to follow. This scheme is another fine example."

“For me, as a dad with a boy and two girls, it’s refreshing to be able to take them somewhere they can get active together. A place where both boys and girls can enjoy themselves and get fit.”

Health and Fitness Manager for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, Emma MacSymons said, “This is about bringing fun into children’s fitness, tackling childhood obesity by encouraging children and young people to adopt a healthy lifestyle."

“Fit Crew is an original health-related fitness programme for children and young people that comprises four fantastic programmes based on fun, action and skill acquisition.”

Aimed at five to 16-year-olds Fit Crew comprises of Team Power, Team Combat, Team Jam, Team Energy.

* Team Energy is a programme designed for children aged five to 10 focusing on cardiovascular need, balance, ball skills, agility and teamwork.

* Team Power uses the revolutionary ‘gymstick’ to help 11 to 16-year-olds strengthen, tone and improve all-round fitness.

* Team Combat is a martial fitness programme for children and teenagers combining both the discipline and tradition of martial arts with fun and fitness.

* Team Jam is a funky dance based programme that uses the latest sounds and hottest moves of street dance, hip hop, cheerleading, aerobic and salsa routines to get youngsters moving and jumping.

Young people aged 14-16-years-old will also be able to access Teen Gym –supervised gym sessions as part of the Fit Crew programme.

Emma added, “As a leisure provider we recognise the importance of a future full of healthy, strong and active children."

“In the ongoing battle against childhood obesity we have worked hard to create a concept that encourages young people to enjoy exercise and physical activity while learning to incorporate it into their daily lives.”

Fit Crew starts from 9th November 2009. For more information on timetables and cost call Howe Bridge Sports Centre (01942 870 403), Leigh Indoor Sports Centre (01942 487 800) and Robin Park Arena (01942 828 550).

10/11/2009 - Consultation launched on legal rights to waiting times and NHS Health Checks for patients

Patients will have legal rights to maximum waiting times for elective procedures and urgent cancer referrals and to an NHS Health Check every five years for those aged 40-74, if proposals published today are taken forward.

The proposals, set out in ‘The NHS Constitution: A consultation on new patient rights‘, will mean that from 1 April 2010, patients will have the legal right to maximum waiting times to start treatment by a consultant within 18 weeks of GP referral, and to be seen by a cancer specialist within 2 weeks of GP referral.

If the NHS is unable to meet this commitment, it will be required to take all reasonable steps to find a range of alternative providers that can. This will enable a patient to receive their care more quickly, if this is what they want. The alternatives could include private providers at NHS prices.
In addition, everyone aged 40-74 will have the right to an NHS Health Check every five years to assess their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. Identifying any risk early should help to reduce the incidence of these diseases and the damage they cause.

Health Secretary and Leigh MP Andy Burnham said, “The NHS Constitution lets people know what they can expect and what they can demand. But, like the NHS, the Constitution must evolve if it is to remain relevant."

“Waiting times are the shortest they have ever been but I want to build on this and give patients a legal right to maximum waiting times. Turning targets into legal rights will empower patients and guarantee them the same high standards of care, regardless of where they live."

“In the next decade, the NHS must make a decisive move towards being a more preventative service and a more people centred service. So I want to give all patients aged 40-74 the legal right to have an NHS Health Check every five years. And we’re also seeking views on whether there should be a legal right in future to choose to die at home and to personal health budgets to give people power over their own care."

“A decade of investment and reform has seen the NHS go from poor to good. Now, in striving to move from good to great we need to take a new approach – less about central targets, more about rights and entitlements. These proposals will mean that patient rights, enshrined in the NHS Constitution, will safeguard the NHS for the future.”

Including these rights in the NHS Constitution would ensure that the NHS will never return to the days of patients waiting 18 months for treatment and offers people a quick and straightforward means of redress for the small number of cases where their rights are not met.

The consultation also seeks views on going even further and including more rights in the future. These could include:

• the right to choose to die at home;
• the right to access to NHS dentistry;
• the right to personal health budgets;
• the right to choose a GP practice offering extended access to evening and weekend appointments; and
• the right to key diagnostic tests for suspected cancer patients within one week of seeing a GP, with an interim milestone of 2 weeks.

The consultation can be found by clicking here.