Unpaid carers save the nation around £162 billion every year. They often have to decide between paying bills, eating, or getting the person they care for to crucial medical appointments, or visiting them in hospitals or hospices. They also have their own lives to balance around caring, for example travelling from school, college, university or work to the person they care for on a regular basis; or in the case of intermittent carers, such as university students, if an emergency arises and they have to take time off and travel long distances to help the person they care for. Public transport is an essential service that should be financially accessible to carers. Various regions of the country have railcard schemes that provide discounts based on where people live, but there is no national scheme for rail or bus that does not depend on age or disability. There are benefits available to some carers depending on their circumstances, but even when they are awarded, travels costs are so high that it still becomes a struggle. The Government is already looking at improving the rights of carers and services provided to them, so I believe this is the right time to fight for concessionary or even free travel for carers. Please join me in asking for a carers railcard and bus pass, that would be life-changing for thousands of people. This petition was inspired by a Scotland-specific campaign, created by Amanda MacDonald.

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

this is important as it is the closest science can at present allow a lesbian couple to have a child as close to biologically both of theirs as possible. The non biological parent is carrying the biological parents child and feels like a part of the ''making our baby' process. At present it can cost lesbian couples thousands of pounds to do this and only the rich couples can afford it. Allowing the same rights to lesbian couples to that of heterosexual couples on NHS including Reciprocal IVF would allow the poorer couples the chance to also have a family.

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

I feel that this is important because public services should not be used to generate profit for individuals or shareholders beyond what is necessary to operate the service and provide investment into improving the service.

The tower currently looks like a giant cigarette in the sky, let's be honest. Unmissable from most of Brighton and Hove, it might as well be a power station chimney. But why not take this opportunity to put some colour in the sky! Let's create a true Brighton icon and paint the tower in a rainbow! Truly in keeping with the bohemian culture and community, representing Brighton's unique and true colours, proud of standing out from the crowd. Be brave British Airways, i360 team and Brighton community, let's make a change! #paintwithpride https://s.bsd.net/38degrees/main/page/-/CBY/brighton.jpg

Currently it is only open Friday-Sunday, adding Monday would be very helpful.

The inability to use Paypal's global electronic money transfer system, is hindering the progress of Palestinian owned businesses to exploit markets necessary to their healthy growth, in an location where this is vital. They should have the right to compete on a more even footing with Israeli settlers who suffer no such restrictions.

The ancient legal principle that the Government is not above the law is being flouted by the DWP's implementation of benefits sanctions. David had his benefits repeatedly sanctioned by Jobcentre Plus officials. This resulted in him being unable to control his diabetes because he had no money for food. This caused diabetic ulcers. These became infected and he had to have a leg amputated. All these sanctions were eventually overturned, but it was too late. Other cases of illegal benefits sanctions we are fighting include claimants with learning disabilities, mental health problems and physical impairments having their benefits stopped for being unable to get to totally unsuitable appointments. The imposition of unachievable requirements by the DWP, and then the removal of benefits for being unable to meet such requirements, breaches the Equality Act and a set of legal principles governing the way public bodies should behave called Public Law. We support over 500 people to get benefits reinstated each year. Last year we recovered £507,393 for claimants. Help fight back against the destruction of the social security system fought for by our ancestors. We are also interested in launching a class action class action so if you have been affected by illegal benefit sanctions, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

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 ....