Latest news with #ConnorRand
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Calls for new diagnostics centre in Altrincham after unit shuts
Calls are being made for a new diagnostic centre to be based at a Greater Manchester hospital following a controversial move to permanently close its minor injuries and local politicians opposed the closure of the unit at Altrincham General Hospital, which was confirmed in unit was shut during the coronavirus pandemic because of staff shortages and specialist nursing staff were deployed to other sites like Wythenshawe Hospital, where residents in south Trafford must now go to get and Sale West MP Connor Rand said he was now in "active discussions" with the government to boost services offered in Altrincham. Rand said: "I consistently opposed the closure of the minor injuries unit. "But since the disappointing decision to close it was confirmed, I have been in active discussions with the government."We need new services at Altrincham Hospital that will reduce pressure on Trafford General and Wythenshawe Hospital and save local residents unnecessary journeys."A diagnostics centre would do this. I'll continue to press for this in the weeks and months ahead." 'Spiralling waiting lists' His call followed comments by Trafford Council's Liberal Democrat spokesman for health, Councillor Simon Lepori, who is also a health professional, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said the decision to permanently close the unit had left "unanswered questions about the future of local health services in south Trafford". He continued: "How are we going to tackle spiralling waiting lists at Trafford General and Wythenshawe Hospitals? How can we support people who are struggling to access GP services? "What will the three empty rooms that housed the unit be used for now?"Trafford Liberal Democrats are calling on the Labour Party and NHS Greater Manchester bosses to establish a permanent diagnostic centre at Altrincham."A statement from NHS Greater Manchester said it was "committed to ensuring local residents have access to the right healthcare when they need it".It added: "We are exploring how to make the best use of the space within Altrincham Hospital as part of wider plans to improve healthcare across Greater Manchester." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Altrincham minor injuries unit to close for good
A minor injuries unit is to be permanently closed, NHS bosses have unit at Altrincham General Hospital was first shut in 2020 due to a national shortage of specialist emergency nurses but briefly reopened for a month in July 2021 before closing again due to staff to shut the department came after a review recommended "stand-alone" units should not be recommissioned to help address "the often confusing mix of urgent care services" in plans to close the unit provoked an outcry from Altrincham and Sale MP Connor Rand and councillors who said it would be a "devastating loss". Rand used his maiden speech in the Commons to call for the unit to be told fellow MPs the minor injuries unit was "a service that was relied upon by my constituents" before its Greater Manchester said services had been relocated to Wythenshawe Hospital about three miles away, which offers a "round-the-clock" Accident & Emergency department and a wider range of urgent care services. 'Ends uncertainty' It said all other services at Altrincham Hospital remained open and plans were under way to determine the long-term use of the space where the minor injuries unit was Sheerin, chief commissioning officer for NHS Greater Manchester, said that while it might not be the news some residents were hoping for, the decision "brings an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty and ensures urgent and emergency care services continue to meet national standards"."While the [unit] was once an important part of local healthcare, both the way services are delivered and what people need from them have changed," she said. "To offer safer, more reliable care for everyone, services must be organised in a way that works better for the whole community, both now and in the future."She said alongside Wythenshawe's A&E local GP practices offered extended access appointments and NHS 111 could guide people to the "most appropriate" care. Ms Sheerin said NHS Greater Manchester was committed to "improving services, tackling waiting times and building a sustainable workforce". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'When I told my daughter where she'd have to go to school she was physically sick'
A mother has told how her daughter was 'reduced to tears and was physically sick' after being told she had been denied entry into any of her local secondary schools in Sale. Lisa Marie Street, 43, is one of about 30 furious parents whose children have been allocated places at Broadoak School in Partington, five miles from where they live in Ashton-on-Mersey village. She said her daughter, Harriett, 11, was 'distraught upon hearing the news'. READ MORE: Manchester Airport passenger forced to leave plane in wheelchair after six-hour 'flight from hell' READ MORE: Tragic holiday couple found dead in ditch 'hours after van followed by police' "It took immense encouragement to get her to school that day, and by the evening she was physically sick from distress," said Lisa Marrie. 'She struggled to comprehend why she had been denied a place at a school less than a mile away, while being sent to a school in an unfamiliar area.' 'This issue is not just about one child. It reflects a wider systemic failure that is disadvantaging local families and undermining the future of our children.' She said that following Trafford council's admissions guidance, she selected Ashton on Mersey and Altrincham College as two of their preferences. 'To our devastation, we were informed [by Trafford council] that Harriett had not been offered a place at any of our chosen schools and was instead allocated to Broadoak in Partington - a school 5.5 miles away, with significantly lower performance standards,' she said. At a meeting with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the affected parents said they were stunned to be told their children failed to gain places in any of their FIVE preferred choices of school. The angry parents have also contacted Altrincham and Sale West MP Connor Rand, who has taken up their case. The families, who say they have all lived in Ashton village for years, claim the shortage of school places in south Trafford is being made worse because people from outside the borough are renting properties in order to get their children into the best schools. Trafford council has confirmed that 'a small number of applicants' could not be offered places at a school in Sale or Altrincham. Now, all the parents have told the LDRS that they will appeal. A petition posted on by Kate Bader, 42, has gained traction with a total of 1,199 signatures and she has asked Altrincham and Sale West MP Connor Rand for help. Her post said: 'The current high school placement strategy is far from equitable. My own daughter has been offered a place five miles away from home. 'With a surge in the Trafford Grammar Schools Consortium's exams rate by 13 per cent, we find students outside Trafford filling up slots in its grammar schools, thus having a direct effect on local high school placements.' It goes on: 'Despite paying premiums associated with living in an education hub, we find our child assigned to a school in Partington, significantly distant and less convenient. Notably, none of our five favourable preferences were granted - a circumstance that has left us concerned if our voice is even being heard.' She said that school assignments 'should be just, fair and factor in the convenience and proximity to students' homes'. 'The current system, unfortunately, potentially gives preference to students applying from outside catchment areas, snubbing deserving children who live locally.' Lisa Marie added: 'I urge Trafford council to explore immediate solutions, including the possibility of additional 'bulge classes'—a measure that has been implemented in the past to accommodate increased local demand. Furthermore, Altrincham College is currently undergoing expansion. Has this been considered as a potential resolution?' Other parents included Helen Brown, 47, Lisa Grimshaw, 37, Brendan Williams, 46, and Suganya Kumaravelu, 38. Another parent said: 'We have now to go through the arduous process of making separate appeals for each of our five preferences. It's an awful situation.' Meanwhile, Mr Rand told the LDRS: 'As a dad with a young son, I understand the anger and concern parents have about the issues with school places locally. They should have the chance for their children to be educated in an appropriate school close to where they live, rather than a school that would take almost two hours to get to on public transport. "I'm organising a meeting with affected parents to hear their concerns, and I'll be writing to Ashton-on-Mersey school about expanding the number of places they offer, and to local grammar schools about their admissions policy. I continue to support active efforts to increase secondary school provision in the area. " A spokesperson for Trafford council said: 'This year, 93 per cent of Trafford parents were offered places at one of their top three choices. 'Unfortunately, places for schools in Sale were oversubscribed and, as in previous years, we provided Sale residents with tailored application advice to give themselves the best chance of achieving a local place. 'Due to the levels of oversubscription in Sale, a small number of applicants, some of whom had followed all of our advice regarding their application, could not be offered a place at a local school. They were subsequently offered a place at a school in a different area. We understand parents' frustrations and have provided advice about the appeals process.'
BBC News
13-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Altrincham: Parents angry after buses fail to pick up pupils
Parents have hit out at transport bosses after claiming school buses have frequently failed to pick up pupils – forcing them to walk miles and making them of pupils living in Broadheath in Greater Manchester say they have protested to their local MP Connor Rand and ward councillor Ulrich Savary for four months about two particular mother said she was surprised to learn her son was able to take pictures of Manchester City's Etihad Stadium one morning after the bus "inexplicably" took a different for Greater Manchester (TfGM) director of bus Stephen Rhodes said: "We are committed to ensuring that Bee Network services are reliable." The Bee Network was launched in the south of Greater Manchester in January - meaning the whole region now has a publicly-run bus pupils who use the 746 and 759 services mostly attend one of three schools - Altrincham Grammar Schools for Boys and Girls and the all-girls Loreto Grammar Tuesday the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) watched as the 746 bus, on its way to Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, drove straight past at least 15 children waiting at the bus stop on Sinderland Road, outside Broadheath Primary School.A couple of minutes later, the 759 service on its way to Loreto stopped and all the pupils got on Kazmi whose 13-year-old son who attends the boys' grammar said: "The buses are often full to capacity and leave children at the bus stop. ""The children are then left with no choice but to contact their parents or walk to school... most of the parents are unable to pick them up because they have work commitments."Naeem Peerzada, whose 12-year-old daughter attends the girls' grammar said: "It happens about once a week. 'Inconvenience' "The school says that even if you are late through no fault of your own, you have to make up the time for being late. The drivers should stop."A TfGM spokesperson told the LDRS: "We are aware of concerns regarding capacity on the 746 and 759 services, and we are sorry for any inconvenience these issues are causing pupils and their families."TfGM and bus operators are currently investigating whether changes to the current network can be made that will provide extra capacity for students boarding at this stop."Altrincham Grammar School for Boys deputy head James Whiting said: "To date, we are not aware of any student who has missed a bus home due to being late in the morning for reasons beyond their control."Altrincham Grammar School for Girls has been contacted for Beever, head of Loreto Grammar School, added: "We are always aware of what's going on the buses because it can prove a challenge sometimes."Earlier this month Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham admitted the 203 service between Stockport, Reddish, Debdale Park and Piccadilly Gardens had "not been good enough" after mums complained about cancelled and delayed buses making their children late for school. But the mayor added: "Overall, bus services in the south of Greater Manchester are already as good as - if not better - than the ones they replaced." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
