LIBDEM CANDIDATE OPENS DEBATE ON NHS (Colne Valley Liberal Democrats)

Colne Valley Liberal Democrats <info@colnevalleylibdems.org.uk>

LIBDEM CANDIDATE OPENS DEBATE ON NHS

March 5, 2009 12:00 AM

At the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Spring Assembly, Kirklees Councillor http://www.colnevalleylibdems.org.uk/>Nicola Turner (Parliamentary Candidate for the Colne Valley) opened a lively debate on Healthy Ambitions.

She opened her remarks with a series of hard-hitting and challenging questions.

"Why is the health of children in Yorkshire among the worst in England?

"Why are so many of our children predicted to be obese by 2010?

"Why is acute asthma so much higher here?

"Why is childhood anaemia so prevalent amongst our inner-city children?

"Why is infant mortality higher in Yorkshire than in the rest of England?"

After pouring scorn on the never-ending and ineffectual initiatives presented by a succession of inadequate Health Ministers over the past twenty years or more, she suggested that communication between central Government, Local Government, the local NHS Trusts and the public had completely broken down.

"The Liberal Democrats believe in empowering local people, but it is the responsibility of our government institutions to assist. If young people want to play sport, then local Government must help by providing suitable facilities. If people want to access the countryside - and we are so lucky to have so much beautiful countryside in Yorkshire - then our councils must maintain our Public Rights of Way.

"If central Government really means that we should be encouraging people to live longer and more sustainable lives, then it must make the capital available for local councils and NHS Trusts to assist and guide those people".

"It is no longer acceptable to me for local people to be subjected to health statistics that read as though they have been produced in a report on an emerging country overseas", she stormed.