Tag: Barbara Dring

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NEWS: Paulette Hamilton invites South Oscott residents to ‘have a cuppa with your new MP’

Words by Ed King / Pics supplied by Paulette Hamilton MP

Erdington’s Member of Parliament, Paullette Hamilton (Labour), has invited local residents living in South Oscott to ‘have a cuppa with your new MP’.

In an event held at Maryvale Community Centre on Saturday 7 September, from 12noon to 2pm, Ms Hamilton is looking to engage in “a relaxed conversation” with people in the area and gain “a clear understanding of the key issues in South Oscott”.

She is further hoping that the chance to meet face to face with their Member of Parliament will “ensure that locals [in South Oscott] feel confident in approaching [her] with any concerns.”

Anyone wanting to attend can be signed in at the event, with no advance booking necessary. Security will be present by a spokesperson from the MP’s office has said they will “keep it informal”.

Having retained her seat in the recent General Election – beating the Reform UK parliamentary, Jack Brookes, by 7019 votes and the Conservative candidate, Steve Knee, by 9372 votes – Paulette Hamilton continues to hold a strong majority in the traditionally Labour seat.

But following boundary changes to Erdington constituency in 2024, Ms Hamilton is now the voice in Parliament for the entire Kinsgstanding Ward and half of the Oscott Ward.

Oscott Ward is represented in Birmingham City Council by Cllr Barbara Dring (Labour) and Cllr Darius Sandhu (Conservative).

Paulette Hamilton MP told Erdington Local: “Two months ago, I had the honour of being re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Erdington, now proudly representing South Oscott and the whole of Kingstanding. When I said I wanted to champion the concerns of local people, I meant every word.

“This is why I am keen to get stuck in, listen to residents’ concerns, and campaign on their priorities. I believe in the power of personal connection, which is why I am inviting local people from South Oscott to join me for a cup of tea or coffee.”

She added: “Let’s have a relaxed conversation where (they can see the real me – someone who genuinely cares and listens.

“I am committed to being a strong voice for every corner of our community in Parliament, ensuring that no area and no community feels left behind.”

Paullette Hamiliton already holds five monthly ‘MP surgeries’ across the Erdington constituency, with one to one sessions held in Kingstanding, Perry Common, Erdington, Stockland Green, and Castle Vale.

The MP’s office also organises special immigration advice sessions at Perry Common Hall on Wednesdays.

At the time of writing is was unclear if there would be additional regular MP surgeries organised in the Oscott Ward.

However, a spokesperson from the MP’s office confirmed: “Paulette [Hamilton] knows how important it is for local people to access their MP” and they are “looking for a suitable arrangement” for residents in the area.

For more on Paulette Hamilton MP for Erdington visit www.paulettehamilton.org

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NEWS: Councillors rally support for Warren Farm Urgent Care Centre as threat of closure looms

Words by Erdington Local editorial team / Pics by Ed King

Kingstanding residents have been urged to show how much they value the Warren Farm Urgent Care Centre after the NHS admitted it could soon close for good.

Situated on Waren Farm Road, by the colloquially known Concker Island, the NHS operated centre is open 365 days a year and has taken the strain off local hospitals for decades, but a recent inspection deemed the building “substandard”.

Kingstanding and Oscott Councillors have been informed the Urgent Care Centre, which stopped accepting walk-in patients about three years ago – according to staff – could close in a matter of weeks. However, staff at the facility were unable to confirm if the closure was imminent.

Oscott Councillor Barbara Dring (Labour) told: “We need Warren Farm Urgent Care Centre to stay open. The service is so important to this side of the city. Everyone who uses it needs to tell the NHS how important and beloved the centre is. We cannot lose another wonderful facility and only say how great it is after it is gone.”

She added: “Warren Farm Urgent Care Centre also plays a pivotal role helping the vulnerable and disabled in the community who it appears are not always considered in decision making. It has long been a community lifeline for so many.”

Kingstanding Councillor Rick Payne (Conservative) has also demanded “talks with the Trust” after hearing about the centre’s imminent closure.

A spokesperson for NHS Birmingham and Solihull said: “No decision has been made at this point. However, Warren Farm Urgent Care Centre in Kingstanding is currently housed in a building which is of a sub-standard quality, with significant patient safety concerns arising as a result.

“It’s important to us that our patients receive the best possible care in the most appropriate and safest facilities, which is why we are working through options for the future of the service.

“Over the coming weeks, we’ll be talking to patients and staff about any proposals in order to ensure the service can adapt to meet the needs of its local population and teams.”

The possible closure of the Urgent Care Centre Centre comes amid widespread concerns about local GP surgeries being overloaded and appointments with doctors becoming harder to obtain.

Elsewhere, the locally loved walk in centre on Erdington High Street closed its doors during the coronavirus lockdowns – eventually renaming the service as the Erdington Urgent Treatment Centre and moving to the Stockland Green Primary Care Centre in October 2020.

The High Street facility did reopen as the Erdington Health and Wellbeing Hub in December 2010, offering a range of free to access support through both drop in and pre-booked sessions with trained advisors – run by Witton Lodge Community Association.

From 2000 to 2010, under the Labour governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown respectively, the NHS opened more than 230 walk-in centres across England.

But the facilities have been steadily shutting their doors, with the health regulator Monitor finding over 50 have closed since 2010 – with further research by the not-for-profit political-activism organisation 38 Degrees finding a further 44 are no longer seeing patients.

Originally planned to improve patient access to primary care, the NHS walk-in centres have ‘stirred debate’ within the healthcare sector over their cost effectiveness sand use of resources – according to Monitor.

However, the facilities have proved generally popular with local residents and users, offering an alternative to often overburdened GP surgeries.

One local patient, David Smith, complained: “I have given up trying with my doctors, they say phone up at 8am and the line is always engaged.”

For more on Warren Farm Urgent Care Centre visit www.warrenfarmurgentcarecentre.nhs.uk