In June 2014, the Government introduced charges for using the Child Maintenance Service. To apply for a maintenance assessment it costs £20.00, with no guarantee any maintenance will ever be received. To then have the maintenance collected, more charges are imposed on both parents. The paying parent pays an extra 20% on top of their maintenance assessment and the receiving parent has a further 4% of their maintenance deducted. This means on an assessment of £100, the paying parent actually pays £120 and the receiving parent only gets £96, with the government taking a total of £24, not including the application fee. So far the charges have totalled over £8.5 million and are rising to a staggering £1 million per month. This money should be supporting the future of children and going towards essentials such as clothes, healthy food, books, education and heating. The charges are designed as a deterrent for using the Child Maintenance Service and it is feared that thousands of children are not receiving maintenance as a result. Even the government’s own research predicted 100,000 fewer parents would make maintenance arrangements because of the introduction of charges. Where maintenance is received it is often at a lower amount, either because parents feel pressured to accept a lower payment rather than use the Child Maintenance Service and face charges, or because they use the service and have money deducted by the government. The new system also puts extra pressure on relationships between parents, particularly when there is a history of abuse and/or violence. Studies have shown how essential child maintenance is for lifting the growing number of children living in poverty out of that desperate and disadvantaged situation. The charges are due to be reviewed at the end of the year so now is the time to call on the government to end this unfair tax on single parent families. Sign the petition asking the Minister for the Department of Work and Pensions to end all charges for the use of the Child Maintenance Service.

The council have a history of closing down community centres in Brixton without proper justification. After a routine health and safety check ,the independent surveyor, Mr Chris Steel of C. Steele Associates Limited, assured us that we could remain in the building whilst the work was carried out. However, a month later we received letters from the council asking us to leave the building permanently. We've been working in this building for the past 25 years and it's one of the last remaining community centres that have not been sold to developers. Our work history at this building has been long and varied.This was recognised by the late great Muhammad Ali who attended our Jubilee 2000 Afrika campaign for the cancellation of 3rd world debt in 1999. Many political and human rights campaign's have been established at the centre. The centre is a hub for refugees and asylum seekers and people looking for advice and support around housing, employment and other social issues. Whilst the council want to force us out, our vision for the centre is to expand and archive the work that has been accomplished in the building. And to make the building a flag ship alternative space in Brixton.

This puts a strain on the already stretched A&E services not only in Kent but in the entire country. Our large elderly community have been the mainstay of this country over the decades, gave their time and their lives to serve this country and now, when they need help the most, it is embarrassingly unavailable. Not everyone can get to the William Harvey in Ashford which is now our closest A&E department and the waiting times have increased exponentially, especially now with the closure of the Canterbury A&E. As time goes on the infrastructure is constantly changing to meet the needs of an ever increasing demand on traffic which in itself adds to the increased need for A&E to be a permanent feature in the town as it is one of the busiest ports in the world.

Hospitals are being forced to send vulnerable patients home after surgery due to "bed blocking" but many still need time to recuperate before they are well enough to cope at home, especially those living alone and the aged. My own 83 year old mother benefited from a short stay at Cheadle Hospital after a knee operation. Without that support she would have needed 24 hour care, especially as she suffered from dementia.

Despite closing some time ago for refurbishment, East Barnet Health Centre has reopened and reestablished it's surgery. This however hasn't seen the reopening of the baby clinic, meaning that local parents /carers are left without the access to monitor their children's health closely and seekany advice or guidance they may need. The nearest open clinic is at Vale Drive Health Centre in High Barnet, meaning several of us find it difficult and are unable to travel to an already busy clinic. The health visitors say that they hope the clinic will reopen soon, however we hope to assist and show that the clinic being reopened is of importance to us within the local area. Our children are denied the chance to easily access the checks these clinics provide and parents / carers cannot access any information or advice they may need as easily as they should be able to. We miss out the chance to have our children weighed, measured, get advice on weining , breast feeding and so on. It is not always possible or realistic to travel and use the already over used clinic on a Monday at Vale Drive. Please please sign and share to show this clinic is needed and important to us local users.

It is another step to privatisation of the NHS. Walk in centres are all-new buildings financed by local taxpayers. They alleviate pressure on A &E. It is always very busy and its usual for an hour's wait to see a nurse which proves how well used it is

Because I am one of many people who is hard of hearing and hearing aids can cost as much as £1000 such as the ones l was issued recently, fortunately for me our trust hasn't stopped issuing hearing aids yet.

It has come to our attention that NHS England is threatening to close this surgery within months due to one of the partners dissolving the contract for GP services here against the wishes of his fellow partners, staff and most importantly the 6000 patients signed up here. This move will unnecessarily make many patients including vulnerable and elderly members of our community deeply anxious and could cause negative health, social and psychological effects. It is completely unfair that the actions of one GP should have a severely detrimental effect on the very existence of this surgery and its wider community – many of which have been members of this practice for over 20 years. The Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS England should seek to consult with the practice’s patients in order to see if an amicable solution can be found before making a decision of this magnitude. Earl’s Court Medical Centre (previously Om Sai Clinic) has been a vital part of our community for nearly 50 years and we cannot afford to lose this hugely important provision of local healthcare. This is a dispute between the doctors but the practice’s patients are very much dependent on this Centre and are happy with the high quality of service that they receive. The location is excellent being situated next to Earls Court Underground Station, easy parking, close to bus links, the A4 and Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. A decision like this should not be imposed on us when a huge majority of people associated with the practice including staff and patients strongly oppose any possible closure. There are no similar facilities near here and no comparable service. Patients feel safe, comfortable and reassured here even at times of great stress and worry for them. The closure of this surgery would result in the displacement of thousands of patients that would need to be relocated elsewhere, putting severe strain on neighbouring GP surgeries. This is not in the interests of NHS service provision in this part of London which is already facing huge pressures in dealing with demand. The NHS funded the purchase of the freehold of the building on Earl’s Court Road and they funded the formation of the practice, which is purpose built for healthcare services and represents millions of pounds worth of public investment over many years. The NHS pays a £200k/annum interest only mortgage for the premises. They pay for the running of this successful practice. To close it down would be a real travesty. This practice even has potential for growth. With additional doctors, the facility could cope with an extra 4,000 patients bringing the total to a possible 10,000. What needs to happen now? • Our aim is to do what is required in order to keep this surgery open • The people this affects are primarily the patients and staff. NHS England should consult the other GPs, staff and patients before arriving at a decision. • Do not proceed with any change until sufficient time should be given to a process of mediation between NHS England and the GPs concerned in order to explore all available options to keep this practice open instead of rushing through an ill conceived decision. What are the solutions? • NHS England to buy the partner out and find a replacement GP to replace him in order to sustain the practice contract • NHS England to buy the freehold of the property thereby safeguarding the longevity of the surgery • NHS England to halt any change to the existence of the surgery on the condition of seeking to find an alternative partner to replace the one that wishes to exit. • Give control to the remaining 2 GPs who are willing to buy the exiting partner out under a newly issued contract. We would be most grateful if you could do all that you can to save this practice from closure. It is against the will of the community at large and all seems to come from the actions of one doctor. This can so easily be avoided if some compassion, discretion and common sense could be applied at a senior level where such decisions can be taken. If necessarily, we would be grateful if you could raise this with the Secretary of State for Health as we feel these needs the attention at the highest levels in order to protect such a vital community asset concerning thousands of people.

The board of the Oxford university hospital NHS foundation trust maintain that their impending downgrading of the maternity unit at the Horton Hospital, Banbury is due to no suitable doctors being available, news has also been released that two trauma doctors have resigned their posts. An investigation of the advertised posts in the trust show no indication of these posts being available. Downgrading of services at this local district general hospital, without any upgrading of services in the area's ambulance trust or the 'main' hospital in Oxford will inevitably mean sick / injured people being transported in unsuitable conditions for 30+ miles through some of the most congested roads in southern England to a hospital that will be overstretched trying to deal with a workload it was never designed for. This situation was totally avoidable and is no indication of a civilised country in the 21st century, those responsible should be bought to account

Community Hospitals provide health and medical services such as minor injuries departments and hospital beds for those well enough to be released from General Hospitals but still too sick to return to their own homes. These hospitals act as intermediaries, providing care for some of the most vulnerable people in south devon in particular the old and infirm. In particular patients who would have used Ashburton & Buckfastleigh Community Hospital will be put into Totnes Community Hospital instead. This is farther from home, there is no public transport links, and therefore will only cost more money to non-emergency patient transport services. Beds in community hospitals mean General Hospitals are able to move recovering patients enabling them to treat more critical patients. Losing these beds will only serve to bed block General Hospitals, such as Torbay, leading to poorer service. When it comes to Medical treatment this can be the difference in providing outstanding care (saving lives), or being prevented from treating the sick or injured (resulting in preventable deaths and suffering).

There is mental health funding in Birmingham and Walsall that is meant to provide advocates to those that struggle and need assistance or prompting to be able to live independently with mental health day to day. This support helps people to get outside and live their lives by giving them confidence and support. I’ve tried to access this support and have been told there are no available advocates. Without this support many patients end up housebound. It’s like a mental health postcode lottery. I’m a mum and it really pains me to see my children missing out on making lovely memories during their summer holidays, because I can’t access the help I and many others suffering in silence need, to manage anxiety and depression, bipolar and many more mental illnesses. I'd say cuts to NHS mental health is wrong ... how are people meant to get better if theres no one there to reach out to in time of need... 😕 I feel strongly about this matter ... Call it personal experience ... Age , race , sex , rich or poor....... Mental illness can affect anyone ....

Help us protect our Crisis Line in Bristol! Earlier this month, Bristol Mental Health (BMH) announced the proposed closure of the crisis line from the end of November 2016. Some concerned users of the crisis line have expressed anxiety over the potential changes, sharing that they worry they would "lose a valuable service" that has helped them 'throughout the last eighteen months or so', approximately how long the line has been operational. With at least one in four people experiencing a mental health issue in their lifetime, now is the time for increased and clear mental health support that is easily accessible for all. We feel that there needs to be more improved signposting, with clear and easily accessible information available for people wanting to use mental health services and seek support. We want to ensure that any changes to the crisis line are in the best interests of those currently accessing services, and those that may access Bristol’s mental health services in the the future. We will be meeting with BMH and Bristol CCG on 9th September to discuss the crisis line further, and will also announce a date for an open meeting to get wider views in the near future. In the meantime, please join us in ensuring proper scrutiny of the future of our Crisis Line and spread the word of this vital campaign by signing and sharing this petition to show you are with us when we meet with them. If you want to get in touch about this campaign, or share your experience of using the Crisis Line, then please drop BIMHN Secretary, Tom, an email at: [email protected] References 1. BIMHN article breaking the story: http://bimhn.org.uk/news/bristol-crisis-line-closure/ 2. Bristol Cable article: https://thebristolcable.org/2016/08/mental-health-crisis-line-to-close-oh-wait/ 3. Second BMH Statement: http://bristolmentalhealth.org/news-and-events/bristol-mental-health-news/2016/august/statement-regarding-bmhs-crisis-line/ 4. Latest BIMHN statement and link to third statement from BMH: http://bimhn.org.uk/news/response-latest-crisis-line-statement/ 5. Updated BIMHN news article on the campaign, including latest statement from BMH: http://bimhn.org.uk/news/crisis-line-update/