.We want our hospital and Urgent Care Service to stay.It is of vital importance that a rural community such as ours retains access to a well resourced,responsive emergency service. We have witnessed the downgrading of services at Hexham General Hospital since it opened in 2003 and we do not want to see further depletion of this valued resource which puts patients at risk.The development of a specialist emergency hospital 30-50 miles away should not mean reductions in the current local service,which denies this community equal access to healthcare.This is of particular concern regarding our access to the Emergency Ambulance Service which is experiencing significant financial and service pressures. We are concerned that once services are removed they are never replaced .We believe that in the current climate of huge financial pressures on the NHS our services must be defended against further downgrading, fragmentation and privatisation so that the NHS remains a service free at the point of delivery which meets the needs of its citizens who own it.

The People of Swadlincote ARE BEING SOLD SHORT! Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) has proposed cuts to ‘front line’ services at Swadlincote Fire Station. As part of the government’s austerity drive senior management and politicians are using an emphasis on fewer fire calls to justify these proposals and also as an incentive to pave the way for short sighted cost-cutting decisions. This and future decisions will determine the standard of our Fire & Rescue Service in Derbyshire for years to come. In January DFRS will commence a trial at Swadlincote Fire Station which will mean that Wholetime (full-time) firefighters will only work during the day. Night time incidents will be attended by Retained (part-time) firefighters. Derbyshire FBU oppose this management initiative and have proposed a return to a successful duty system used (until recent times) for many years at Swadlincote. This tried and tested system ensures Wholetime firefighters provide 24/7 guaranteed day and night cover (utilising existing housing at the fire station site) whilst Retained firefighters provide additional on-call cover from their primary employment or homes (subject to their availability). Importantly, our proposal of change would offer similar cost-savings to the Fire Authority. The closure of nearby Moira fire station in Leicestershire along with possible future changes at Burton fire station in Staffordshire will only add to concerns over the levels of night-time emergency fire provision in South Derbyshire. You deserve much more than: ONE FIRE ENGINE INSTEAD OF TWO AT NIGHT! It is likely that during the trial one of the towns two fire engines will be unavailable during the night due to the current reduced quota of Retained firefighters. A house fire requires the attendance of two fire engines (or three if people are trapped within the property). This will place a higher dependency on neighbouring fire crews at night and fails to address the associated risks of time delay and an under-resourced attendance during the initial stages of an incident. It raises significant safety issues for both members of the public and firefighters responding to an incident. INCREASED ATTENDANCE TIMES AT NIGHT! The trial will mean a delay at night as Retained firefighters can live up to 5 minutes travel time from the fire station. FBU proposals would allow an immediate response from brigade housing at night. Senior management would have you believe that the time delay of the two options is comparable - this is disingenuous. Individuals living beside a fire station will respond quicker than those living up to 5 minutes ‘travel-time’ away. Unexpected circumstances beyond anyone’s control can further delay Retained firefighters response. Most life-threatening fires occur during night-time hours. 24/7 FIRE COVER NO LONGER GUARANTEED! Though statistics may show that the frequency of fires is lower during the night, tragic incidents in Derbyshire in recent years remind us that the fires that occur at night are those most likely to become severe and thus pose a greater risk to the public. Also, for any number of reasons which might mean limited availability, (such as primary employment / family commitments) the mobilisation of a fire engine with a Retained crew can never truly be guaranteed at all times. REDUCTION IN EQUIPMENT AT NIGHT! Along with the loss of a Fire Engine at night it should be understood that Retained firefighters contracts allow only limited hours for training. As such they currently operate in a ‘restricted role’. This means that the Fire Engine they crew is not truly comparable to that used by Wholetime firefighters. There might be certain items of equipment not available as the personnel may not have had training in certain skills. Having no Wholetime firefighters from Swadlincote available during the night is yet another move that, in today’s climate, impacts on already compromised fire and rescue resilience. It is nothing less than a retrograde step. To voice your objections, e-mail: roland.hosker@derbyshire.gov.uk heather.wheeler.mp@parliament.uk kath.lauro@derbyshire.gov.uk trevor.southerd@derbyshire.gov.uk

The Cardiff Alcohol and Drug team has provided an expert and effective service to people struggling with substance misuse in the Cardiff and Vale areas for nearly 30 years. Cardiff County council has decided to close it as part of a round of cuts. The service provides a team of social workers and a team of counsellors so giving a holistic approach to helping individuals and their families. They currently have around 230 people in contact with the service. It is estimated that somebody that has alcohol or drug issues will effect a further 8 people in their families and communities not to mention the pressure put upon services such as housing, criminal justice and health to name a few. The cost of the service is 218,000 pa which is less than some executive members of the council's salary and has a lot more of a positive effect.

The government decided to remove a type of funding called ‘The Minimum Practice Income Guarantee’ (MPIG), which has a significant impact on The Limehouse Practice. This will translate into a 20% cut in funding for the practice. NHS England does the calculations to decide which practices are classed as severely affected. However, they have used wrong figures to calculate the impact of the MPIG removal for the practice. We pointed out that the way they are calculating whether practices are severely affected is incorrect, and their estimated figures for patient numbers inaccurate. They have admitted their figures are not as accurate as ours, but say they have to stick to their original calculations and have refused our application for the 2-year reprieve. We need the support of our patients and the local community to campaign for this crucial part of our funding to be returned for the next 2 years. The government has agreed to review the funding for primary care by 2016. By 2016 the Limehouse Practice will become unsustainable to run due to these funding cuts. Please show your support by signing our petition.

My daughter Maisie has autism, and is in a mental health unit in Manchester. I have to take an almost 200 mile round trip to see my 14 year old daughter, because this is where the nearest available bed is. My child is ill, she is in a hospital miles away from home. As her Mum I would expect to see her, cuddle her and reassure her every day. As her Mum I need to be there when she needs me. As her Mum I should be able to hold her hand through her recovery. As her Mum, not being able to do so is heartbreaking. Trying to sleep at night, knowing my little girl is so far away, alone and homesick is harrowing. I’m exhausted, physically and mentally and I feel helpless. Maisie says ‘It’s horrible, I hate being so far away from home. I don’t get to see my Mum everyday. Other local kids get to see their Mums and Dads everyday. It’s not fair.’ Inpatient mental health units are for children whose mental health needs are so severe that they need round the clock support from mental health workers. Children can be in this unit for a few days or a few months, and is a distressing time for both the child and their family. It’s made even worse by being so far away. Dozens of children from Hull and East Riding have been sent to inpatient units far from home since the Hull unit closed in 2013. This could be avoided by having a unit in Hull again. These vulnerable children need their families around them at this frightening time. NHS England make decisions about which areas have inpatient units for children. Their own research showed that 18 more beds were need in the wider area, but these beds were added to inpatient units that already exist in Sheffield and York. This means that the nearest unit to Hull is still 42 miles away, and families remain far away from their children. We want: • NHS England to recommission an inpatient unit for children with severe mental health issues in the Hull area • Immediate support for children experiencing a mental health crisis, at any time of the day or night.

Recent cuts have lead to unnecessary deaths, as funding has been cut too far back for these services to function. People with critical illness, such as heart and even strokes had to wait 15 minutes before an ambulance appeared. Police can not attend emergency calls, as manpower has been cut. A&E is over stretched with 4 hour queues as we had nearly 15 years ago, due to unnecessary cuts by East Cambridgeshire county council. People are being placed in unnecessary range and death, as emergency services have been cut far to far. Government has falsified their statements of supporting the NHS, as they talk about a few extra millions added this winter, when in fact they have cut NHS funding by £30 billion plus. This was a tactic to be able to say that the NHS needs to be privatised, which in fact will cost as far more than we have paid so far, as shareholders expect huge shareholding premiums. Be not be fooled. the NHS worked fine, not perfectly but it was good. It was just mismanaged by various governments in the last 30 to 40 years, but in particular in the last 20 years.

We ask the following: That Harrow council does not close down or eradicate the functions and services of our public libraries in Harrow, one of the last community amenities left in the borough. We believe that libraries are the embodiment of social provision and community spirit they offer more than just books. They offer children's activities during term time and holidays. These are used by parents and nurseries. Libraries are a great hub for the digital society we live in they provide access to the internet to those that do not have access in their homes. They are centres for study and reflection: they are places of peace for students and residents to study. They are venues for training and education and a haven for old aged pensioners who wish to get out of the confines of the home. Knowledge is an inalienable right for all who live in Harrow. This is true for all walks of life and should be accessible universally across the whole borough. We are concerned that the threatened closure of libraries will leave sections of our communities with poor access to libraries than others. We believe a modern library can be organised and funded through a variety of avenues and that Harrow council should investigate the commercial potential of libraries before decisions to close or limit access is taken. Please sign this petition if you believe in the universal provision of literature, education and community service in Harrow. Say no to this great social asset. Educated citizens of Harrow are the greatest asset to Harrow. This petition will be handed to the mayor of Harrow before any Decision is taken on the future of our libraries.

Libraries are important in the local community , they offer educational courses , parent and toddler sessions , local interest courses , a place to chat , a place to collect books . For the unemployed there's computers. For disabled children it's a calming environment The staff remember your name you are always made to feel welcome . With out libraries and the staff we will be missing a vital part of the community .

Stone Court has provided a valuable service for vulnerable families in the area since opening in 1993. It isn't just a roof over their heads it is a complete support network that helps families with day to day life and getting back onto an even footing. Stone Court is the only service like this in the area. Without the funding from Torbay Council the network of support staff can no longer be afforded and residents have been issued with a Section 21 notice to quit. Past families have seen Stone Court as a lifeline that they couldn't have done without and wouldn't know where they would be now if it wasn't for their support. There is no service in place to take over from the good work Stone Court does. Lose Stone Court you lose a very valuable resource that has helped vulnerable families in Torbay for years.

This will help the people who are living with autism condition to least have a better life being supported. It will be a big disaster and will put the life conditions of autistic people in great danger and miserable.

Because everyone is different. Some have practical skills, some academic and not everyone reaches their potential at the "right" time. Everyone should have more than one chance to succeed in gaining qualifications, whatever their age.

Because I believe that it is truly a job of the NHS to provide the health care in our prison system and not money making private firms. We must stop these services going out to tender to the highest bidder.