Speaking to the combined Nairnshire community councils meeting tonight at the Community and Arts Centre, Dr Adrian Baker gave a detailed talk about the prospects locally for health care at a time of increasing austerity. To merely say his presentation was depressing doesn't do justice to what he had to say. If anyone present was in any doubt about what might happen as cuts bite then what Adrian had to say was a sobering experience. When time permits we hope to publish all of what he said, in the meantime here’s one small part which is shocking in its own right:
“There was the End Child Poverty report which was reported quite widely showing that Nairn had 24% of children living in poverty. That’s ranked third in Highland. That may come as a bit of a surprise to some people but not to us delivering health care on the front line. The Highland average is 19%...”
http://endchildpoverty.org.uk/why-end-child-poverty/poverty-in-your-area
ReplyDeleteRaw data as above. It is a reflection of why Nairn also qualifies for deprivation-related funding.
Unlike most other North European countries, Scotland - because it is part of UK plc is one of the most economically divided societies.
Independence would have addressed that holistically. Until that time, Nicola will do what can be done to make us a better and fairer place.
Let's see if she does; less excuses, distractions and blame and governance instead would be welcome.
ReplyDeleteAll over the uk,its the same,until the balance between haves and have nots is addressed nothing will change.
ReplyDelete@ anon re single mothers. OK anon, you think single mothers are mainly responsible - this observer knows single mothers who work very hard to provide a decent home for their kids. One size doesn't fit all and it is easy to stigmatise one group in society. The truth of this is that there are a lot of people out their earning their poverty - single/married or whatever their relationship status.
ReplyDeleteWell said Mr Graisg
ReplyDeleteIf more than half those living in poverty are in work then people are working to be poor, whilst the rich have doubled their wealth in the last 5years, energy bills are up 37%, food bills are up 24% and the cost of social housing has increased 26% - the only people who get a pay rise are the rich, ordinary people are on zero hour contracts, if they are lucky to get a job - wage increases what are they? The cost of public transport rises constantly too unless you are a pensioner and you get free travel. Going to Raigmore hospital with my children to visit a dying relative costs over £12, luckily I can afford that but it must be hard for so many people.Walk a mile in their shoes before condemning people for being poor.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to families struggling to make ends meet. Everyone should have a right to a living wage and we cannot call ourselves a civilised country whilst we treat people and children like this.
I'm just waiting for the Gurn's resident pensioner to pop up and tell us it's because all the parents smoke fags and could easily afford the money it takes to get themselves out of poverty
ReplyDelete@ father of 3 - won't post that because you could be identified by details. Sorry you have to undertake dangerous work for £5 per hour.
ReplyDelete