5 million want more work or better jobs in UK's biggest Cities

OVER 5 million people want to work, want more hours or are trapped in low paid and insecure work across the UK's 12 biggest Cities, according to a new report.  The report for the independent Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) comes as new metro mayors, elected in May, complete their 100th day in office and the monthly employment figures are published. Although the employment rate is the highest on record, the analysis of official statistics shows the scale of the challenge facing City leaders and national Government to ensure everyone has the opportunity to get a good job.  In total, the analysis shows there are 5.3 million people missing out because of a 'more and better jobs gap' across the UK's 12 major City Region areas.  The gap is the number of people who are unemployed, underemployed or inactive because of barriers such as caring or disability, but who would want to work if jobs were available (the more jobs gap); and workers earning less than the living wage and those on insecure contracts who would prefer permanent contracts (the better jobs gap).

The report found:-

►  In Manchester and Birmingham, where metro mayors were elected in May, more than ½ a million people are seeking more and better paid work.

►  In Birmingham, 356,000 people are either not working, but want to work, or are working but want more hours.

►  In Manchester, 1 in 5 people who are in the workforce; 291,000; are in low pay or insecure work.

►  In Liverpool and Sheffield, ⅖ of the workforce are not, working but would like to, want more hours, or are trapped in low pay or insecure work. This amounts to 303,000 people in Liverpool and 391,000 people in Sheffield.

JRF is calling on City leaders to work with the Government on devising local industrial strategies that prioritise creating more and better jobs. The Government's forthcoming report to Parliament on its progress to full employment should consider the disparities in employment rates between places and the quality of jobs on offer.  Dave Innes, economist at JRF, said:- "Britain has enjoyed a jobs miracle and the national picture on jobs is good; more people are in work than ever before. But these figures show millions of people across our big Cities are missing out on this success and there is still a long way to go.  The priority for City leaders and the Government is to use the industrial strategy to create the conditions for more and better jobs, and ensure people who have been left behind can find work."

Access to medical technology in Southport and Formby among best in the country

PATIENTS in Southport and Formby have some of the best access in the country to vital medical treatments such as:- pacemakers, cataract surgery, and hip and knee replacements, a new study by the Medical Technology Group has revealed.  The report examined data from all 209 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) from across England to find out how effective they are at giving patients access to medical technology. It found that NHS Southport and Formby CCG was in the top 10 CCG performers when measured against the NHS 18 week 'referral to treatment' target and the NHS Atlas of Variation, which measures how patients' access to NHS services varies across the country. The report revealed wide regional variation in patient access to medical technology and a distinct North South divide, with 9 out of the 10 of the worst performing CCG's located in the South. In cardiology and cardiothoracic medicine for example:- figures ranged from 100% of patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks, in North Durham, while Medway CCG failed to hit the target for ½ of its patients. Patient waiting times are steadily increasing across all CCGs, the MTG study found. NHS performance reached a peak in late 2012 when nearly 19 out of 20 patients (94.8%) were referred to a consultant within the 18 week timeframe. However, in April 2017, the figure had declined to 9 out of 10, with almost 3 times more patients (380,000) waiting longer than 18 weeks for treatment compared with 130,000 in November 2012.  Chair of the MTG, Barbara Harpham, said:- "Delivering high quality healthcare, no matter where you live, is one of the fundamental principles of the NHS. But budget cuts and rationing is having a huge impact on the service patients receive, and the outcome they can expect.   This enormous variation can't simply be explained by the regional differences in populations. There is an unprecedented strain on the health service and patients are not being given equal access to the treatment; and most importantly; the technology they need."  The MTG makes seven recommendations to address the issue of regional variation, including publication of aggregate waiting time figures, so patients can compare the performance of their local NHS against other regions and inspections of the worst performing CCGs by NHS England. Barbara Harpham added:- "Quicker and better access to medical technology can save the NHS money in the long term, by avoiding complications and additional treatment and by getting patients out of Hospital and back to work and into the community. It's time to reassess how medical technology is commissioned and to call these underperforming health services to account."  A copy of the MTG report:- 'The North South NHS divide: how where you are; not what you need; dictates your care' can be downloaded now.