News reports located on this page = 3.

MPs debate sentencing for death by dangerous driving

ON Monday, 8 July 2019, the UK Government debated imposing life sentences for causing death by dangerous driving after receiving a petition that had more than 164,000 signatures on it.  The petition, which was started by Glenn and Rebecca Youens whose 4 year old daughter, Violet Grace, was killed by a hit and run driver who was later convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

In their petition they stated:- "The men who killed our daughter drove a stolen a car at 83mph within a 30mph zone. They killed our 4 year old daughter Violet Grace and severely injured her nan, who has life changing injuries. They will serve less time in prison than Violet was alive. I don't want other families to suffer like this." 

The presenters of the petition also add:- "In October 2017, the Government promised life sentences for death by dangerous driving. It's now 2019. Innocent people have been killed, but nothing has changed. The law is out of date. Anyone convicted of death by dangerous driving should receive life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 15 years. If more than 1 person is killed or injured, the sentences must run separately."

Monday's debate provided an opportunity for MPs to question a Government Minister directly on this topic and the debate was opened by Helen Jones MP, Chair of the Petitions Committee.

The UK Governments response to the petition:- "Driving offences can have devastating consequences for victims and their loved ones. Sentencing in individual cases is always a matter for the Courts, which are independent. This was a deeply tragic case and our sympathies remain with Violet Grace's family. No sentence can make up for the loss of a loved 1, but we are focused on getting the law right, to ensure the changes we make are comprehensive, proportionate and, we hope, might help avoid some further unnecessary deaths on our roads."

A number of bereaved families who have lost loved ones to dangerous driving attended Monday's debate and are pictured with this report.  We would love to hear what your thoughts are on this topic, so please do email our newsroom to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com with your views on this very emotive topic.

New state of the art social care facility opens in Liverpool

A 35 bed Townsend Hub in Anfield now boasts 40% more capacity than the previous Venmore facility; including:- 6 larger rooms with hoists for patients with mobility issues. It will support people to get back on their feet again following a Hospital stay, before they return home. All the bedrooms have en-suite facilities and there are also areas for:- therapy and socialising, dining facilities, gardens and a hairdressing salon.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:- "The opening of Townsend hub marks the 1st milestone in a significant investment in transforming social care in Liverpool. These new buildings will provide our service users with the modern facilities they deserve. The facilities we are creating will help ease pressure on other areas of the NHS which are under constant strain such as Hospitals where beds are far more costly. Importantly, they will save the public purse money by ensuring that people aren't tying up more expensive Hospital beds."

The previous stroke facility on Hartnup Street is being transformed into 1 of 3 dementia hubs across the City, as part of a ₤30 million investment in social care, and is set open in November 2019. Work is also underway on a new ₤8 million facility on South Parade in Speke which opens in September 2019, while a third site is also planned for the North of the City.

Liverpool City Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Cllr Paul Brant, said:- "We have a growing older population and that means more demand for our services, which is why we are investing in creating additional capacity. They will help reduce the number of people unnecessarily delayed in Hospital following NHS treatment by getting and improve their experience of health and social care services by driving up quality standards."

The 60 bed facilities will provide state of the art accommodation and care for people living with dementia; as well as those with other long term residential and nursing care needs. The services at the dementia hubs will be managed by health and social care provider, Shaw healthcare, in a contract signed with the City Council for 25 years. They will help reduce the number of people unnecessarily delayed in Hospital following NHS treatment by getting and improve their experience of health and social care services by driving up quality standards. They will be flexible step-up, step-down facilities, meaning they can be used to support people with lower level needs who would otherwise end up in Hospital, as well as providing intermediate care to help get people out of Hospital quicker.

Jan Ledward, Chief Officer for NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group said:- "The Townsend hub is a fantastic joint investment which supports closer partnership working between health and social care services in Liverpool, and faster Hospital discharge for patients who no longer need to be in Hospital, freeing up beds more quickly for those who do."

At the same time, building work has now completed at Besford House in Belle Vale. The hub, which provides accommodation for adults with learning disabilities, has undergone an ₤900,000 makeover. Improvements include decorating, new carpets and flooring, new bathroom suites, kitchens and furniture.

The City Council already spends almost ₤50 million a year on residential and nursing care, plus a further ₤11 million on dementia and memory loss services. It has shielded social care as much as it can from the cuts in its funding from Central Government since 2010, despite a ₤444 million reduction in the Council's budget from 2010; 2020.

Get summer ready with Honda!

WITH summer in full swing, people who live in Southport are invited to the Southport Honda Summer Sale Event where they can test drive a brand new Honda and take advantage of exclusive offers. Simply test drive a:- Honda Civic, CR-V, HR-V or Jazz before the end of August and take advantage of up to ₤1,000 off your next Honda vehicle, on top of all other offers. Locals will also receive five-years of complimentary servicing on all models. Geoff Stothert, Sales Director, said:- "At Honda, we like to provide our customers with a personal and reliable service tailored to individual needs. The Summer Sale Event allows our guests to experience the car 1st hand and make a great saving, just in time for their summer road trips! We would encourage everyone to visit the dealership to make the most of these offers and take their perfect Honda for a drive!"