The findings of the Organ Donation Taskforce have been published today, and their major finding has been not to recommend the introduction of “Presumed consent” - ie where doctors can remove organs for transplant unless the person has opted out.

Currently donors have to opt in by registering and carrying a donor card. There are 8,000 people awaiting transplants and 1,000 of these are likely to die because no organ donor will become available.

I hope that the publicity will give a push to the campaign to get more donors. I have attached a link to the Organ Donor website if you are interested in signing up:

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp

The next Blood Donor session in Aldridge is on Friday 2nd January 2009 at Aldridge Community Centre.

Sessions run from 13:30 to 15:30 and then from 16:30 up to 19:30.

I don’t particularly like needles, but I can assure you that it isn’t that painful or frightening!There’s always then biscuits and tea you get afterwards to focus on and take your mind off the actual donation bit…

If you want to know more then you can click on the link I’ve added for blood donor services on the left hand side.

At the Aldridge South & Streetly Community Action Group meeting held recently I raised the issue of the Bail Hostel on Stonnall Road, Aldridge. This followed concerns raised in the local newspaper  by residents over an incident involving one of the residents from the bail hostel.I have received the following reply from Sgt Finch, Neighbourhood Sergeant at Aldridge Police Station, in respect of this question:

“The Bail Hostel is run by the probation service and is Home Office approved and regulated. Although the police have a good working partnership with the probation service and on our part with the staff at  the bail hostel we have no influence over policy and procedures. On a reassurance point, over the many years that the bail hostel has been in Stonnall Road there have been very few incidents that have  come to the notice of the police or required police intervention. It is a controlled environment where influence can be exerted over the residents. This would not be the case if they were released elsewhere which they are entitled to, having served their sentence.”

Also at the Aldridge South & Streetly Community Action Group meeting held recently I raised the issue of the opening hours of the Police Station in Aldridge. This followed concerns raised in the local newspaper by a resident who went to report knife crime involving her son but found the station was closed apparently because the staff were taking a “tea break”.
I have received the following reply from Sgt Finch, Neighbourhood Sergeant at Aldridge Police Station, in respect of the question:

“Aldridge Police Station is open to the public 7am till 10pm Monday to Friday and 10am till 6pm Saturday and Sunday. The front office is manned by civilian members of staff who are entitled to breaks. To accommodate this the station is occasionally closed for a short period of time. The alternative would be to take an officer off the streets to cover the front office which we are reluctant to do. Although the station is closed to the public outside of the times given it remains an operational station 24/7 with neighbourhood officers and support teams officers coming and going throughout the day and night.  A policy decision was made to close the station to the public of a night time as experience showed that the demand did not justify a member of police staff being posted to the station 24/7. This remains true and I do not envisage a time where the station will remain open 24hrs a day every day.”

The economic crisis means everyone’s worried about the future. Many are struggling to get by from day to day. The banks have been bailed out. I believe now it’s time for action to help people and their families through these tough times.

While Labour and the Conservatives argue about who is to blame, the Liberal Democrats are focused on practical help for people and families. We have developed a simple action plan that will really make a difference, putting money in your pocket, cutting unfair bills, and keeping people safe in their homes. There are four urgent changes we’re calling for:

1. Cutting taxes for struggling families so you’ve got more money in your pocket. The Liberal Democrats will cut taxes for people on low and middle incomes, raising them for the richest so the tax cuts are affordable.

2. Lowering energy bills so you can afford to keep warm this winter. As wholesale fuel prices fall - they have dropped 28% since August - utility companies must lower people’s bills too.

3. Keeping people in their homes, so you don’t need to fear unfair repossessions. We must ensure that banks only ever repossess people’s homes as a last resort.

4. Lower mortgage payments and cheaper business loans through big interest rate cuts. People and businesses need help paying off their mortgages and loans, so we need substantially lower interest rates.

This package of measures would make a real difference to people’s everyday lives. You can read more details at www.libdems.org.uk/recoveryplan.

However I need your help. To really represent everyone, it’s crucial that Lib Dems understand exactly how people’s lives in Aldridge are being affected. We’ve already seen a number of big firms closing, jobs being lost and businesses close. So please get in touch with your stories about the impact the credit crunch is having on your family and your area. I will ensure Nick Clegg gets to know what you think and even what further help we should push for with the Government!