Age UK Lancashire - Leisure activities and support for the over-50s

Age UK Lancashire has just produced a leaflet detailing leisure and social activities for the over-50s and a scan of it can be seen above. The contact number for Age UK Lancashire is 01254 871010 for anyone who wishes to find out more.

The reverse of the flyer shows details of daytime support available to older people and further information can be obtained by phoning 0300 3031234.

Benefit Fraud update - September 2013

Hyndburn Borough Council's Investigation Team have just published their monthly update. The Benefit Fraud sanctions and penalties for the 2013/14 administrative year have a combined notional sanctions value of £72,400:

•  11 Prosecutions
•  29 Official Cautions
•  2 Administrative Penalties

The school holidays have ended and people’s routines have, in a lot of cases, returned to normal. This is traditionally a time where people become aware of potential fraudulent activity. Therefore, please be on the lookout for the potential signs and if you see something or are told something please report it to us promptly so we can put a stop to it.

The Fraud Hotline 01254 380 240 is available 24 hours a day to leave details in addition to the Council website’s Report-a-Fraud page:

HBC Report Benefit Fraud

LCC Health Scrutiny Committee webcast

Clayton-le-Moors Councillor Tim O'Kane recently attended the LCC Health Scrutiny Committee at County Hall and raised several issues relating to Hyndburn. Lancashire County Council meetings are webcast and Tim's speech can be heard by following this link:

LCC Health Scrutiny Committee - 10th September 2013

A timeline on the right hand side allows viewers to fast forward to the relevant section and Tim's speech begins at 1:45:40.

Polling district review

Hyndburn Council is looking at the places where you go to vote at election time and is keen to find out what you think.

A statutory review of the polling districts and polling places within the Borough is now taking place.

Jane Ellis, the Council’s Returning Officer and the person responsible for the review, says “The review of where people in Hyndburn go to vote at elections will look at how easy the places are for electors to get to and also at access issues for everyone. People will be able to suggest alternative buildings for use as polling places. The Council will also be consulting with Councillors and other interested groups.”

If anyone in Hyndburn wants to write in with their suggestions then they should do so by Monday 25th November: Electoral Services, Scaitcliffe House, Ormerod Street, Accrington BB5 0PF or by email to: pollingstationreview@hyndburnbc.gov.uk

Altham: New parish council clerk appointed

A new clerk has been appointed to Altham Parish Council. Mrs Denny Randall-Felix can be contacted at Altham Parish Council, Council Offices, Media House, Burnley Road, Altham, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 5TX.

Milnshaw: Health Review could see cuts to Milnshaw based Community Hospital

A review of the current health care provision in Hyndburn by the East Lacanchire Clinical Commissioning   group could well see plans to scale down or even close the hugely successful walk in unit at Accrington Victoria Community Hospital. Accrington Victoria Health Access Centre, based at Accrington Victoria Community Hospital, is a GP practice and minor illness walk in centre.  Patients who are registered with the practice benefit from a full range of primary care services including routine appointments, well being checks etc as well as access to the walk in centre for minor illness. 

Patients not registered with the practice may also access the walk in service for urgent minor illness problems.

Milnshaw ward councillor Paul Cox said "This unit is a vital part of the community and provides an excellent   service often during out of hours. To even consider closeting it would be a terrible mistake. It is said that the unit went over budget last year by £1million, however I say that this is an example of a unit be drastically under supported by this Governments cuts to our health system" 

He added, "Yesterday we saw Mr Cameron pledging to open doctors surgeries till 8 and at weekends, yet here, in Hyndburn, we are looking at closing a key health provision. Again it seems Hyndburn suffers at the hands of this Coalition Governments indiscriminate cuts. Let's hope the review will support the need for this service" 

Cllr Pam Barton, portfolio holder for community's at Hyndburn Council has urged residents to take part in the survey. She added that an event is also being held at Accrington Market Hall on October 12, between 10am and 2pm, where the public will be able to talk to health professionals about services.

Surveys are available from GP surgeries, libraries, council buildings and the walk-in centre itself. Or you can call 0800 0322424 or visit www.eastlancsccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/accrington-health-access-centre 

Have your say on Primary Health Care

Cllr Pam Barton, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, today urged local people to have their say about access to primary health care in the Borough.

The move comes as East Lancs Health chiefs start a consultation process to find out how often local people visit their GP, how often they use their GP’s out of hours service and how often they use the walk in centre at Accrington Victoria Hospital.

Cllr Barton said; “These local health services cost a considerable amount of money and Health Chiefs are indicating that savings need to be made. Therefore some difficult decisions may also be necessary about where the savings will be and what services they will affect.  Evidence shows that services such as the walk in service at Accrington Victoria hospital are very popular, but this comes at a cost.  Health chiefs  are considering whether there are other ways of providing access to primary health care, such as improving the service received from your GP, or the out of hours call out service, and the Council is keen to ensure that local people have their say in this important debate.”

A questionnaire will be available for people to complete in public buildings around the Borough from libraries, GP practices and Council buildings and it can also be accessed electronically via Council website or from the following link http://www.eastlancsccg.nhs.uk/get-involved/accrington-health-access-centre

East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group are also holding  ‘open day’ event  in Accrington Market Hall on Saturday 12/10/13 between 10am-2pm where the public will be able to  talk to health professionals and local GP’s about the process which closes on 30th October 2013.

Councillor Barton concluded; “Hyndburn Council is totally committed to the provision of local health care services and we will strive to ensure the residents of Hyndburn do not see a reduced primary health care service. This process is about enabling the public to have their say and make informed choices about the type of service they want. We would encourage as many people as possible to complete the questionnaire before 30th October and/or attend the open day to make sure they have their say.”