Unpaid Carers (carers who do not provide care as a career) are a crucial part of society that saves the government £162 billion a year. Free/concessionary transport for carers would allow carers to live a better quality of life. Carers face many barriers to work and education such as school or college, Travel being one of them. Free travel for carers would help reduce these barriers. Often carers have to decide between the simple and essential things in life such as being able to afford food to eat or accessing vital support services they need to cope with their caring role. Travel should be an essential service rather than another barrier that makes it harder for us to deal with our many responsibilities. This would allow carers to access free transport without the cared for person having to be present in the instance that the cared for has a travel card. However Not every cared for person has the concessionary companion card. If carers are able to access transport at no cost to them this will allow them in turn to provide more/better care for their loved ones. At the end of the day public transport is a service that is a need, we are an essential part of the community so why can't we use it too! For carers to receive this free travel they would need to prove to whomever is in charge that they are in fact a carer so this system can not be abused. A way in which they could do this is by having a letter from their carers centre or health professional such as social work department or if they are in receipt of carers allowance the letter proving this. Carers need assistance in alot of areas such as an increase of money they receive for Carers Allowance due to it clearly not being enough . This issue is being looked at by government and slowly increasing so I believe now transport needs to be looked at . Not everyone can get benefits so let's help people get what they deserve , might not seem important to most but to many it will change their lives. We deserve to be treated as equals...Is free/concessionary transport for carers to much to ask for in return for those who give up their lives to care for others?

In 2014, Public Health England published their final version of a health report on fracking. The report was narrow in its contents and missed out some significant health evidence that indicated hydraulic fracturing impacted upon public health. Since that report, hundreds of other health reports have been published with critical evidence that now needs to be taken into account before any shale activity should proceed within the UK. Medact have released two reports into public health and fracking, both of which have been ignored by the Conservative government. Medact said they have “called for a moratorium on fracking because of the serious risks it poses to public health. Fracking has already been suspended in Wales and Scotland because of health and climate risks and New York State has banned fracking because of the ‘significant health risks’. “The [Medact] report highlights the limitations of Public Health England’s report on fracking, including the fact that it was narrow in scope and failed to critically assess the adequacy and reliability of the regulatory system. “Working with various experts in energy policy and climate change, Medact’s report also describes how shale gas produces a level of GHG emissions that is incompatible with the UK’s commitments to address climate change.” A letter published in the British Medical Journal stated: “The arguments against fracking on public health and ecological grounds are overwhelming. There are clear grounds for adopting the precautionary principle and prohibiting fracking.” This letter was signed by 18 academic and medical professionals. In Lancashire it was left to the county council’s own director of public health to assess health impact. He advised that there was no regulatory system in place, in that health outcomes are not part of the regulatory bodies’ agenda. He could provide no assurance of baseline or any ongoing monitoring of health. More recently, an important study has been released by Johns Hopkins University linking fracking to an exacerbation of asthma. Public Health England’s mission is: "to protect and improve the nation’s health and to address inequalities" If Public Health England is to fulfil their public duty and mission statement, then to not acknowledge and act upon the wealth of contraindications towards hydraulic fracturing, they could be in breach of their position and may face a legal challenge. A full and concise article by Alan Tootill, with references on this subject, can be found here: http://www.frackingdigest.co.uk/health.htm

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 ....

There is more and more nurses shortage all across the UK and especially the NNS. It is mainly due to the fact that LESS number of people are attracted towards the job. And it is due to the fact that the salary for nurses in the NHS is so low that new people are not attracted towards the job. Moreover the existing nurses and trying to take alternative profession simply because of the fact that the stress that they take for the pay they receive is not proportionate. With just over £21000 as a starting salary in the NHS for a newly qualified nurse, it is difficult to attract more people into the progression and due to this low numbers of staff on ward patient care is getting compromised. I would like to promote this campaign as one of the step the improve the plight of our world class NHS.

This hospital provides much needed bed space to help with bed blocking at Bournemouth and Poole Hospitals, it costs a lot less to keep a patient here than in a main hospital. Our community hospital has served the local area for decades, it was donated to the local community by the Americans at the end of WW2. It has provided rehabilitation treatment for hundreds to get back to their homes quicker than a longer stay in our main hospitals and so releasing hospital beds for more needy patients. This hospital is essential for stroke victims and other patients alike providing convalescent stay and clears vital beds in Poole and Bournemouth hospitals. My dear friend ( 93 years young) is in St Leonards Hospital at this moment and she totally amazed by the caring more personal treatment she is receiving, she was very sceptical of going in but is now loving it she burst into floods of tears when she heard of it's future. Closure of this hospital would be a disaster for the local community which in this part of Dorset is predominantly elderly who cannot protest themselves. We must not let this happen.

To allow the safe passage of innocent men, women and children out of Aleppo, cease the slaughter of innocent civilians and medical staff and allow crucial supplies to these beleaguered people. There are over 60 million refugees globally, people displaced by war and under constant and brutal attack. In my trips to the Jungle in Calais ( France) I met and heard some of the harrowing stories of many innocent and decent people and marvelled at some incredible feats of bravery. All of these stories affected me deeply, especially those concerning the children - hundreds of unaccompanied minors. We all deserve the right to a safe home. The number of displaced and traumatised individuals worldwide is a disgrace and Aleppo is rapidly adding to an already unmanageable crisis. I like many millions of others, want this to stop.

The company that runs the cleaning, catering, security services at Homeron Hospital announced in July that they plan to cut hours and posts for some staff. Initially we were told this could mean up to 89 redundancies but ISS have since stated that the number will be much less than this. Nevertheless, it is clear that ISS are looking to reduce hours and some positions. Our first concern is about patient safety. Where staff are already stretched trying to complete the work they need to do, we believe that the impact of staff working shorter hours or having fewer staff working in the hospital will be that the vital work that our cleaners, caterers and security staff do cannot be completed effectively. We are also concerned about the impact on staff. ISS staff have told us that they are worried about what cuts in pay will do to themselves and their families. This is a very low paid group of workers. They are also concerned about the impact on the health of staff left covering increased workloads. But above all, ISS staff have pointed out that their role is about saving lives. They get job satisfaction from working for patients and are very committed to the Homerton Hospital and are therefore extremely concerned about what this will do to the service they can provide. Protect our patients, protect our NHS, no reduction in hours or posts. The current threat to hours and posts and the lack of information provided to staff does little to support either promise. Patient care should be our priority and staff are willing to discuss how workloads are organised. But cuts in hours overall and loss of posts will not support better patient care.

Health Education England (HEE) is currently consulting on proposals which will see massive job losses among staff responsible for the recruitment and training of new doctors and dentists for London and the South East, while at the same time introducing new data systems and ways of working without trialling them first. Currently 180 staff oversee the recruitment and training of thousands of junior doctors and dentists every year. Under the new plans, there will be just 111 staff to do the same work AND take on new business in two areas they have no experience of. This is a 41% head count cut coming at the same time as a massively increased workload, proposed to be implemented by March 2017. Furthermore, this is just the start – this cut is just in one region, but similar cuts are currently being planned in other HEE regions of the country. We believe this represents a denigration of the service for trainee doctors and dentists, and as a consequence a real threat to the NHS and to patient safety. At a time when recruitment of doctors is already suffering due to the government’s health policies, the last thing we need is to undermine it further. These cuts should be stopped completely until the new systems and working patterns have been tested so that informed proposals for safe staffing levels can be made. According to Professor Allyson Pollock: ‘The Health and Social Care Act abolished the NHS and it is now being dismantled through budget cuts and services closures. There is no longer a duty on the Sec of State to provide key services throughout England and many areas will soon find they have decreased and limited access to NHS services and care as hospitals and services close and are sold off. Budgetary cuts are also decimating the organisations such as HEE which is responsible for recruiting and training staff including junior doctors. The destruction of the NHS is continuing apace and only legislation can stop it’.

The use of glyphosates has already been banned or restricted in 8 countries. It is not acceptable that ourselves, our children and the animals we share our community with are being routinely exposed to these chemicals whether we like it or not. This is a matter of great importance for those of us who care about each other's health and the health of our children, our cats, our dogs and all the flora and fauna of this city, of course including our beloved bees. If you don't live in this area, click here to sign or start the campaign for your city: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/start-a-pesticide-campaign

The use of glyphosates has already been banned or restricted in 8 countries. It is not acceptable that ourselves, our children and the animals we share our community with are being routinely exposed to these chemicals whether we like it or not. This is a matter of great importance for those of us who care about each other's health and the health of our children, our cats, our dogs and all the flora and fauna of this city, of course including our beloved bees. If you don't live in this area, click here to sign or start the campaign for your city: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/start-a-pesticide-campaign

The first hour of a patient who has had a stroke is vital and the following days essential when looking at their recovery. If there is a delay in treatment then the outcome can be detrimental to a patients recovery. It is hard enough for a patient and their relatives at such a time but to have them many miles away and could face a long journey to visit their relative puts extra stress on the whole family. Keep services local for best patient outcome.