Letter from Parliament - Paul Rowen MP

12.00.00am GMT Wed 4th Feb 2009

A couple of weeks ago I went to the open day organised by Care UK of the mobile CATS (Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services) units at the top of Yorkshire Street. These are five brand new shiny units costing several million pounds which will visit Rochdale four days every month to provide consultations and treatment not by the NHS but by private companies.

At about the same time I was being given information that hospital services at the Infirmary were under severe pressure. For example the Ambulance Service's target of eight minutes for blue light emergencies was only being met in 60% of cases.

Staff at the Accident and Emergency during the same period were dealing with record numbers of patients - the highest of the four hospitals in Pennine Acute yet the government insist that Rochdale be downgraded to an Urgent Care Unit by 2012.

Similarly our maternity unit is due to close in 2012 yet in 2007 had a record number of births. Across Greater Manchester the Healthy Futures and Making it Better proposals are unravelling even before they are fully implemented.

Would the millions spent on giving private health companies lucrative contacts be better spent on improving our local hospital? In a reply to a letter I sent to the Health Minister Ann Keen dismissed those concerns saying "the performance of Rochdale A&E of 96.8% remains high but does need to improve". Try saying that to those staff giving 110% in A&E? - how pompous and out of touch!

The operation of the Choose and Book system is another issue which was taken up in debate by my colleague Andrew Stunell MP for Hazel Grove. This is a system which is supposed to enable patients to choose their Consultant and hospital for an outpatient clinic. However despite assurances given during the Healthy Futures Consultation it is virtually impossible to get an appointment at Rochdale Infirmary because the consultants are refusing to hold clinics there. Andrew quoted the experience of one Rochdale resident.

Last Saturday at the Coach House in Littleborough, I held the first of a series of public meetings I'm holding for local residents, myself and local Councillors. We had a very lively discussion and Councillors Peter Evans, Rosemary Jones and Pauline Maguire were present. I will be holding several more meetings over the next few months.

On Tuesday I attended the All Party Asbestos Group which discussed, amongst other things, asbestos in schools. A survey of local authorities I undertook showed a wide variation in practice with some authorities employing no asbestos specialists. We agreed to take this further with discussions with the Schools Minister Jim Knight MP and Health and Safety Minister Lord Bill McKenzie.

Prior to this I met Viv Bingham, an ex President of the Liberal Party and Personal Officer of the CWS to discuss strengthening links between the Co-Operative movement and the Liberal Democrats. We are to have a further meeting at our spring conference in Harrogate. Viv is a great character and sent his best wishes to his good friend Sir Cyril Smith.

On Thursday I met one of the backers of the new Hornets board Paul Ormrod who, though now living in London, is Rochdale born and bred. I've followed the discussions about Hornets closely and have had several discussions with the Rugby League Football Union. I wish Paul and his team well.

Talking of sport, Rochdale Football Club's promotion push is gathering momentum. Under the excellent Keith Hill, our football club has captured the imagination of the people of our town and I hope that as many people as possible continue to support both our main sporting institutions.