Cancer hospital
rated 1 of best nationally for patient facilities
MERSEYSIDE and Cheshire's
specialist Cancer Centre has been rated 1 of the best hospitals in
the country in a national inspection programme led by patients.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, which has its
main base in Wirral, scored some of the highest marks in the country
in the PLACE inspection whose results are published on 27 August
2014.
The Patient Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE)
programme sees teams of patient representatives and healthcare staff
assessing hospital facilities in four areas: their cleanliness; the
quality of patient food; respect for people's privacy, dignity and
wellbeing; and their general condition, appearance and maintenance.
The inspection team needs to have a minimum of 50% members who are
patient representatives rather than staff.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre got a perfect score for Condition,
Appearance and Maintenance (100.00%) and an almost perfect score for
cleanliness (99.88%). It also performed extremely strongly on Food
(96.67%) and Privacy, Dignity and Wellbeing (93.18%). The average
scores nationally were nine out of 10 for Cleanliness and Condition,
Appearance and Maintenance and 8 out of 10 for Food and Privacy,
Dignity and Wellbeing.
Patient Michael Parton, 57, from the Isle of Man, has been in The
Clatterbridge Cancer Centre for the last five weeks. "I'd
heard this place was excellent and it has certainly lived up to that
expectation. You get three or four different choices of food; things
like omelette, beef stew, shepherd's pie or a sandwich if you don't
feel like a full meal. You get some hospitals where even the staff
won't eat the food but it's very good here."
Helen Porter, Director of Nursing and Quality at The Clatterbridge
Cancer Centre, said:- "Clean, comfortable facilities, a calm
and peaceful environment, nourishing and delicious food, and respect
for privacy and dignity are incredibly important to patients' morale
and recovery. It's something we take seriously as a trust and put a
lot of thought into, so we are absolutely delighted to have been
rated one of the best trusts nationally for the quality of our
patient facilities."
The PLACE results for 2014 have been published by the Health and
Social Care Information Centre at:-
hscic.gov.uk.
Alcohol licence
revoked
AN off licence in Liverpool
which repeatedly sold alcohol to street drinkers and other people
who were drunk has had its licence revoked. Liverpool City Council's
Alcohol and Tobacco Unit brought the action against Kenny Food and
Wine in Kensington following repeated complaints from local
residents. They successfully argued the establishment was failing to
meet its licensing obligations under Prevention of Public Nuisance,
despite repeated offers of assistance and support. The issues
included:-
► Street drinkers hanging around outside
causing a nuisance to local people.
► Using a nearby alleygate as a toilet.
► Littering the area with empty cans and
bottle.
On one occasion, a man was found unconscious opposite the premises
with two half empty sherry bottles which were believed to have been
sold to him by Kenny Food and Wine. Council officers and Merseyside
Police visited the premises last September and asked them to stop
selling single cans of super strength alcohol to try and reduce the
problem, and to become a member of the Alcohol Watch scheme. Despite
joining Alcohol Watch, evidence gathered later from single cans
found strewn nearby showed they had been sold by Kenny Food and
Wine. Councillor Steve Munby, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods,
said:- "We had received many complaints from local residents
about Kenny Food and Wine causing antisocial behaviour and being a
blight on the area. Despite repeated warnings, they were continuing
to sell alcohol to people with a drink problem and those who were
already drunk. This irresponsible behaviour could not be tolerated
any longer and the revoking of the licence is good news for the
local community." |
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Marshside
reserve gets new lease of life
AFTER 20 years of
successful partnership with Sefton Council, the RSPB is celebrating
a new 99 year lease of the RSPB's Marshside reserve, in Merseyside.
The new lease from the Council trebles the size of the nature
reserve. It grants the RSPB control over the saltmarsh at Marshside
as well as the fresh marsh and includes the former 'Rainford's
marsh'. It also includes the car park and the roadside strip
as far as the sewage works, but does not include the Old Sand
Works', which is still under the control of the Sand Company.
Tony Baker, RSPB Ribble Sites Manager, said:- "This is a
fantastic way to celebrate 20 years of the RSPB and Sefton Council
giving nature a home at Marshside. It's great that it comes in the
first year that our fantastic avocets have nested on the saltmarsh
at Marshside."
There will be a chance to celebrate the news and talk to site staff
about their plans for the future of Marshside at a special 20th
celebration event, to be held at the reserve on Sunday, 7 September
2014.
Tony added:- "We have lots to think about as we look to future
plans for encouraging more wildlife and more human visitors to come
to the reserve; adding further value to Southport as a tourist
destination, and we know we can count on our wonderful volunteers to
help us step up and meet the new challenges the new lease brings."
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Children,
Schools, Families and Leisure, added:- "The RSPB has done a
great job of managing this part of our amazing coast. It's good to
know the Marshside reserve will be in good hands well into the next
century."
The RSPB's management of Marshside forms part of the conservation
organisation's Ribble Coast and Wetlands Futurescape. This is a
large scale project aimed at creating a network of linked homes for
nature across the local area. For more information about the
forthcoming celebration event, visit:-
rspb.org.uk/marshside.
Redrow is preferred developer for
Park Avenue
LIVERPOOL City Council has
selected Redrow as its preferred development partner for land at
Park Avenue. The 2.62 hectare site, which lies outside the boundary
of the 104.75 hectare of Sefton Park, was declared surplus to
requirements in 2013. The Council advertised for a developer to come
forward with ideas for a bespoke, high quality scheme which is
sensitive to the area. The sale price of the land will provide a
much needed financial boost for the Council, and be invested in
projects that benefit the City. Redrow will hold a pre-planning
public consultation drop in event in September, at which people will
be able to comment on their outline ideas for the site.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "This land lies outside
of the boundary of Sefton Park and was originally earmarked for
housing when the park was built. I have been clear that any scheme
which is brought forward must be of the highest quality, of low
density and in keeping with the area. At the moment we simply do not
have enough executive homes in the City, and I believe this scheme
will help us meet some of that demand, and provide more Council Tax
income which we can use to help protect services. We all know that
these are difficult financial times for the Council, and I will make
sure the money raised from the sale of this land is used for
projects that improve the City."
A spokesperson for Redrow Home (NW) said:- "We will now be
undertaking further work prior to submitting a planning application
and this will include discussions with the planning authority,
English Heritage and others. We fully understand and appreciate that
this is a site in a very sensitive location. We will ensure that any
planning application that is submitted is high quality and in
keeping with the local surroundings."
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