Lewisham NHS Choir hit the charts with Dan Healy charity single

Scottish singer-songwriter Dan Healy and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Choir have released a charity single dedicated to key workers, with proceeds going to NHS Charities Together’s COVID-19 Urgent Appeal, the ballad and accompanying music video take the perspective of the citizens obeying the government’s stay-at-home mandate, while expressing appreciation for NHS healthcare professionals and key workers. …

Learning Disabilities & Covid-19 – A Letter to the Minister for Social Care

Helen Whately, MPMinister for Social CareDepartment of Health and Social Care40 Victoria StreetLondon, SW1H OEU Dear Helen, I have been asked to write to you regarding people with learning disabilities and Covid-19 and I seek your assurances on the following: There have been reports that “do not resuscitate” orders have been issued in care homes …

UK has the highest death toll in Europe – Public Health is a matter of life and death

The United Kingdom has overtaken Italy with the highest official death toll from the coronavirus, Covid-19 in Europe. New figures released on Tuesday, 5th May 2020 show that this is the trend, we ask, what does this mean for London and Inner London Local Councils? London is a vast geographical area and has a complex …

Lewisham’s COVID-19 Transport Consultation

Lewisham Council have launched a public consultation on its COVID-19 Transport plans saying: “The London Borough of Lewisham is taking emergency action to help the public safely make the essential trips they need to on foot or by bicycle. Enabling people to keep two metres apart will help protect the health and safety of the …

‘Stop the baseline’ tests at 4 years old

The Department for Education plans to press ahead spending £10 million rolling out exams for every four-year-old entering school. Overwhelmingly the evidence, and consensus from experts around the world, says these kinds of tests on young children are both pointless and damaging. If so-called Baseline Assessment goes ahead in September 2020, every four-year-old will be …

COVID-19 Support for Schools needed now

The National Education Union has asked local councillors to sign a letter about the COVID-19 measures in schools to the Secretary of State for Education. Cllr Alan Hall has signed this letter, saying: “I would like an assurance that families eligible for free school meals (FSM) will be given food vouchers during summer holidays and …

Highest covid death rates – Lewisham in top ten

New figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that London Boroughs have the highest COVID-19 mortality rates in the country. The ONS have produced an interactive map. This shows age-standardised mortality rates for all causes and deaths involving COVID-19 in local authorities in England and Wales, deaths occurring between 1 March and 17 …

International Workers’ Memorial Day – Lewisham

On 28th April, all around the world the trade union movement comes together and marks International Workers’ Memorial Day. This is the time to remember those who have lost their lives at work, or from work-related injury and diseases. To renew our efforts to ‘fight for the living’ and demand safer working conditions. Workers Memorial Day …

Time to demand a wholly public NHS and to create a public National Care Service

Dr Tony O’Sullivan, a former consultant community paeditrician at Lewisham Hospital and Co-Chair of Keep Our NHS Public has released a video explaining why the herd immunity strategy was dangerous, the need for proper personal, protective equipment known as PPE for care workers, teachers, transport staff as well as NHS employees. He argues for serious …

Pay and Protect Care Workers Now

Councillor Alan Hall has joined campaigners from Citizen’s UK calling for a real living wage for care workers. In London, the Living Wage is £10.75 per hour. This is calculated to include higher housing, childcare and transport costs in the capital. Not only that, the current public health emergency – covid-19 – has raised the …