John Penrose
Campaigns - Health
North Somerset PCT
By the end of 2007/8, North Somerset PCT will be £9.1million (3.5 per cent) below the government’s own target for the authority. In addition the current three year funding settlement does little to address North Somerset’s historically low funding settlement.
Weston Hospital
Weston hospital is too small for the town and needs to grow to keep pace, so we’ve launched the “Fair Deal for Weston Hospital” campaign to win £5 million for a new paediatric unit; a new maternity unit; a new 28-bed ward and a new teaching academy. The campaign is supported by many local GPs, and by the Friends of Weston Hospital. The hospital may be small, but it gets top marks for efficiency and the standard of medical care is good, while other hospitals get much more money but overspend every year.
GPs
Weston constituency has a serious problem attracting new GPs into the constituency. The new housing developments around the outskirts of the town are bringing thousands of new families into the area. We have high levels of drug dependency and a large and growing retired community. Local GP practices are closing their books to new patients and more practices with better premises are desperately needed.
Updates
A cause in a coffee cupCall for fairer health fundingHealth trusts' financial painThree hospitals still on sick listMeeting to discuss new health records systemSports clubs miss out on funding helpSports clubs' cash is going to wastePenrose raises queries on video games and epilepsyComputer games warning from mpAmbulance response times are 4% worseMP hits out at slower ambulance responsesTooth decay alertMP supports best start for babyPenrose backs breastfeedingMillions to spare as NHS back in the blackNHS is back in the black ... But the patient is not out of danger yetMillions going unspent as NHS is back in blackDon't ignore your prostate, says MPDon't suffer in silenceBreaking killer thatBusy hospital in MRSA risk scareOvercrowded wards spark fears of bug riskPoliticians back alzheimer's bidDrug ruling disaster for the forgetfulNHS cashPeer, MP join drugs battlePetition against cuts at Weston HospitalAnnual Check up reveals an ailing health trustMixed views as PCT debt hits £14.5MHighs and lows of town's healthcare examinedRiddle of the £10M black hole in health financesTrust's ‘£10M Black Hole’Porter PenroseBlind OAP’S Long March for CharityAged 72, Blind Colin Takes On Trek In Memory Of His SonMP’S Fears of Slower Ambulance ServicesMP Investigating Workforce FiguresHealth Trust must save £7m to cover overspendHospitals - not GP - wil treat minor cuts and bruises?Hospital Facing £3M Loss This YearNo Service Cuts Say Health CheifsFears over GPs' cover for injuriesCome And See For Yourself, Mr BlairPCT Given ReprieveRelief Over Healt Trust DecisionTony Blair's invite to hospital as job cut fears soarMP's Challenge To BlairMP Quizzes Blair On CutsJobs And Beds To Go In Latest Hospital CutsJob Cuts Will Be Worth ItMP:No Cuts At WestonMore Jobs And Beds Are Axed At HospitalHospital To Axe 60 Jobs In £11M CutNew Dad MP Backs Breast FeedingScandal Of £6m Empty WardDental Patients Lose Out As Cash Is Cut - WarningDental patients lose out as cash is cut – warningMum must wait for Op'Get Your Teeth Into Looming Dental Crisis'Town MP Backs Outright BanTrust Borrows £4.3m To Pay Tax And Staff NI ContributionsPatient Plan For More GPsGovernment's Blind Eye On TaxPatients Given Power To Call In Private DoctorsTax And NI Unpaid 'To Save Cash'Tax And NI Payments 'Delayed' To Save CashNew Advisers Offer SupportDentist Warns Thousands Of Patients Could Be Pulled6,500 To Lose NHS Dentists In Cash Crisis22,000 Facing Dental ThreatDentists: We Can't Afford NHS PatientsMP's Worry Over NHS Cash CutsMP Slams CostcuttingHospital Delays Paying Tax To Aid Its FinancesDiabetics 'Misled' On CancellationsDoctors Told To Save More CashWorker Told To Butt Out Hospitals In £3.5m Cuts CrisisNew ‘Lifeline’ Option For Health Trusts29 Hospital Jobs Go As Debt SpiralsDebt Hospital To Axe 29 Jobs29 Jobs To Go At HospitalJob Cuts At Cash-Strapped HospitalHealth Trust FightCampaign visitCelebration Of SightOlder workers deserve better hearing servicesMP spells out warning over healthcare changesResort Needs More Family Doctors, Tory MP ClaimsMP’s Warning As Reshuffle Of Trusts Gets Under WayHealth FearsReorganisation Could Produce SavingsShake-Up To Avon's Health ServiceShake-Up Will Bring Yet More Chaos In Our Health ServiceHealth Revamp ConcernWorries Over Radical Health Service ChangeNew Sexual Health Unit At HospitalMP Demands More DoctorsMP Calls For GP ImprovementsGPs’ Services Must ImproveMP Expresses GP Funding ConcernsTown GP Cash Goes NorthResort's GPs Are Losing Out, Says MPGPs 'Missing Out,' Says MPHospital ‘Is On The Mend’Stern Warning Over Health Trust DeficitHealth Trust ‘Losing Out On Health Funding’
A cause in a coffee cup
4 October 2007 Weston & Worle News
Thirsty fundraisers went stir crazy at two Weston events for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The charity hopes the World's Biggest Coffee Morning on Friday, September 28, will have raised £7 million nationally.
The resort's main event took place at Barcode Youth Cafe, in South Parade, where scores of supporters, including town mayor Cllr John Ley-Morgan, Star FM's Ian Downs and Weston MP John Penrose raised a cup and collected £344.47.
Mayor's secretary Gina Powers said: "It was nice to see so many people turn up and even people passing by saw the sign outside and popped in for a cuppa. It was a brilliant atmosphere, the best one we have ever done."
Forty staff tucked into homemade cakes with their coffee at Windwhistle Primary School in Bournville.
It was the second year the school had organised an event and along with money raised during a raffle made £130.
In North Somerset, Bristol and Bath, 600 coffee mornings took place at workplaces, community centres, homes and schools this year, with more than £80,000 raised in these areas last year.
Macmillan fundraising manager for Bristol, Bath and North Somerset, Kaeti Morrison, said, "It's always a great day and everyone all over the country really enjoyed themselves.
"It is amazing that simply enjoying a cup of coffee socially with friends, family or colleagues at work can help raise vital funds for a cause that is so close to all of our hearts."
Macmillan Cancer Support fund information and counselling centres, specialist Macmillan medical staff, buildings for cancer treatment and care and grants for patients in financial difficulties.
Kaeti added: "I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone for getting together and enjoying a cup of coffee for Macmillan Cancer Support.
"The success of the event is down to the fantastic support we get from the local community.
"Every year, more than 11,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Bristol, Bath and North Somerset. Money raised by this event will help Macmillan to continue providing vital support for each and every one of them."
Call for fairer health funding
7 September 2007 The Weston Mercury
THE Government is still not giving enough money to help ease North Somerset's health debts, according to the town's politicians.
Despite the NHS announcing a surplus of £938million for the end of this financial year, North Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT) still has a £12million deficit.
The PCT commissions services from Weston Area Health Trust, also debt-ridden, which runs Weston General Hospital.
Earlier this year the hospital, under its new chief executive Lorene Read, announced a financial recovery plan which aims to balance the books this year.
Both trusts belong to a group of just 22 out of 341 trusts across the country that are predicting end of financial year deficits.
Weston's MP John Penrose has praised Weston hospital for making 'real headway in dealing with its inherited financial problems'.
But he added: "Weston needs more modern GP surgeries. We'll never do it until the Government gives us the funding we need and deserve."
Health trusts' financial pain
6 September 2007 Weston & Worle News
This area's health trusts are still struggling to balance their books.
New figures reveal North Somerset PCT is facing a deficit of £12 million by the end of the year, up from £8.7 million last year and £4.2 million the year before.
And Weston Area Health NHS Trust is predicted to be £5.4 million in deficit - down from £6.6 million last year but representing 7.7 per cent of its turnover, the third highest rate in the country.
Weston MP John Penrose said: "Weston hospital is making real progress in cutting its financial troubles, which is a tribute to its new management team and dedicated staff.
"Local people want a hospital which they can be proud of and which is financially stable. They're starting to bring the problem under control, but there's still a fair way to go.
"The Primary Care Trust is a different kettle of fish.
"The stark facts are that they still aren't getting enough money.
"The Government's own targets say we should be getting £9 million more health cash this year, which would slash the £12 million deficit by three-quarters.
"I've been badgering health ministers about this for some time and raised the issue during Prime Minister's Question Time. To be fair, they've listened enough to close the gap a bit, but the problem's still there."
Weston's Lib Dem prospective Parliamentary candidate Mike Bell echoed the sentiments.
He said: "Weston Hospital and North Somerset PCT have been historically under-funded and are already saddled with debts from previous years.
"They are under real pressure to deliver balanced budgets this year and that means £17.4 million needs to be saved locally. Hospital chiefs have assured me that this won't mean cuts to services, but we do know that job losses are already on the way.
"At a time when the NHS nationally is expecting an underspend in its budget of nearly £1 billion pounds, it is nothing short of a disgrace that we are facing any cutbacks at all in Weston."
A spokeswoman for Weston Area Health NHS Trust said: "The trust's forecast of its year-end financial position has not changed since the beginning of the financial year.
"The trust has embarked upon a significant financial recovery programme and is making very good progress in the delivery of its £9 million savings target."
Mary Hutton, director of finance for North Somerset PCT, said: "North Somerset has built up a deficit but the primary care trust has begun to turn this around.
"This year we aim to balance our books but we will still have the debt to pay off over the next few years."
Penrose backs breastfeeding
24 May 2007 Weston & Worle News
John Penrose has joined forces with Unicef to campaign for more breastfeeding in the UK.
The Weston MP, who has recently become a father for the second time, met Unicef ambassador Jemima Khan to launch the Breastfeeding Manifesto, which includes seven points for Government action which would improve the health of UK babies, reduce health inequalities and save the National Health Service millions of pounds a year.
Mr Penrose said: "Of course parents have to decide what's best for them and their child, and some mothers find breastfeeding impossible.
"But we should do more to inform and encourage families to understand that it gives babies the best start in life."
Jemima Khan added: "The World Health Organisation recommends infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life.
"But this happens to less than two per cent of UK babies.
"The Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative is working with the health service so mothers understand more about breastfeeding and are enabled to do it if they wish to.
"This is a vitally important health issue and we need commitment and resourcing from Government to ensure all hospital and community staff receive the right level of training."
Millions to spare as NHS back in the black
29 May 2007 Bristol Evening Post
Millions of pounds are going unspent by health trusts in the Bristol area, according to new figures.
Most hospitals, primary care trusts and other health providers in the greater Bristol area reported a surplus for the financial year 2006 to 2007, with some having more than £6 million to spare.
However Weston Area Health Trust (WAHT) has bucked the trend, having overspent by more than £6.5 million in the last financial year.
North Somerset PCT also reported a huge overspend of £8,756,000 in the provisional figures and the Great Western Ambulance Trust, which was formed from the merger of three other trusts last year, came in £1,430,000 over budget, although this is seen as being the trust's consolidation period.
But a £95 million surplus for the South West Strategic Health Authority, up from £30 million, ensured an overall surplus for the whole region.
The provisional figures are due to be published next month, but figures obtained through health trusts suggest the NHS underspent by nearly half a billion pounds last year after a series of cutbacks.
Health unions have said the figures demonstrate the NHS does have money available for the 2.5 per cent pay increase they are calling for.
All healthcare trusts are required to finish a financial year either on or under their budget for the whole year.
United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT) reported a deficit of £1,114,000 on its £372.5 million budget for the last financial year, which they saw as a "satisfactory result", at just 0.3 per cent of their turnover.
A spokesman said: "All NHS Trusts are required to either break even or generate surpluses for reinvestment and UBHT's small surplus was achieved through sound financial control and planning.
"The trust is again planning to generate a small surplus in 2007-2008, which it is required to do in order to repay part of its historical deficit.
"Achieving this will be challenging, although the trust has in place plans to deliver this."
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) completed the year with an £85,000 surplus from its £350 million budget, which saw them complete their four-year recovery plan after a £52 million overspend.
WAHT reported an overspend of £6,673,000 for the past year but currently has a total debt of £21.7 million.
Spokeswoman Caroline Thomas said: "Everyone involved in the financial history of the trust agrees that it offers good value for money.
"Weston is currently costing only 84 per cent of the average for healthcare provision in England.
"Under the new NHS payment scheme, Payment by Results, all hospitals should receive the same fee for each individual procedure.
"However, there are transition arrangements in place for two years, because some hospitals - such as Weston - are more efficient and lower cost than others.
"This year Weston Area Health NHS Trust had to pay the Department of Health a fixed transition payment of £7.8 million - and a similar payment of £6.8 million is due next year - irrespective of the work we have done and actually been paid for.
"In a year's time the trust should no longer have to pay back these sums."
She said the trust is working with NHS South West Strategic Health Authority to deal with the financial challenges it faces, with its first priority being to achieve month-by-month spending within budget.
Bristol's Primary Care Trust made savings of £6,315,000 on its £557 million budget for the year, which came about later in the year where there were initially concerns about overspending.
Spokeswoman Julie Hendry said: "Savings were made late in the financial year on areas that were difficult to predict.
"This includes prescribing, and there have been items locally in the press about how we have been working with practices to reduce spending on drugs and over prescribing - this paid off as we did reduce the drugs expenditure but did not know until a late stage.
"Bristol PCT was created from the former Bristol North and Bristol South and west PCTs half way through the financial year - October 06.
"There have been savings to do with this as there is only one trust board and a subsequent reduction on management costs.
"All the money will be reinvested to be spent this year."
Strategic Health Authority chairman Sir Michael Pitt and chief executive Sir Ian Curruthers said it is the first time in many years the South West has been in overall financial balance.
They said: "While financial deficits have always only been a very small proportion of total NHS expenditure, they have rightly caused concern to patients and the public, especially when accompanied with proposals for major service change. This position has been achieved by significant action, improvement and progress by NHS organisations in the West."
However, Tory Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose has called on the Government to intervene to protect the resort's NHS services from "further morale shattering cuts and service reductions".
NHS is back in the black ... But the patient is not out of danger yet
29 May 2007 Western Daily Press
Healthcare in the South West has returned to the black after years of controversy over deficits, the Western Daily Press can reveal.
Hospitals and primary care trusts (PCTs) across the region are forecast to have been £55 million in the black at the end of the 2006-07 financial year.
That compares with total debts of just under £50m in the previous 12 months.
But there are still trusts with problems. In Wiltshire, where there have been cuts on community hospitals, maternity units and minor injury units, the PCT was still expected to be more than £20 million in deficit. This was, however, down from £28m in 2005-06.
And there were still real difficulties in the Weston-super-Mare area, where both the hospital trust and PCT were heavily in the red.
As the Daily Press has reported, the deficits of recent years have caused huge protests as cottage hospitals have been closed, services cut and staff laid off by trusts trying to balance the books.
Gloucestershire has seen serious problems, especially in the Cotswolds, but the new figures show a remarkable turnaround, from a deficit of £9.5m for the PCT to a surplus of £1.3m. And Bath's Royal United Hospital is in the black for the first time in 14 years, despite being more than £7m in deficit the previous year.
But Northern Devon healthcare trust was £7m in the red, and there is a massive crisis at Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, where debts soared from £15m to £36m, a worrying 17 per cent of its budget.
Some West trusts were helped by the axing of an accounting 'double whammy' which gave them a £5.5m boost. The decision to abolish the Resources Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) rules - which meant overspending trusts not only had to pay back their debts but got less money the following year as well.
The move saw Avon and Wiltshire mental health partnership benefit by £2,789,000, and Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust by £1,319,000.
The figures show PCTs in the region wiped out their debts, moving from a total of £42m in the red in 2005-06 to a slight surplus.
Hospitals were still almost £40m in the red, from £42m the previous year - but the appalling figures for the Royal Cornwall accounted for almost all the debt. However a £95m surplus for the South West Strategic Health Authority, up from £30m, ensured an overall surplus for the region.
IN all, 20 of the West's trusts broke even or were in the black, and just five remained in deficit.
Strategic Health Authority chairman Sir Michael Pitt and chief executive Sir Ian Curruthers say it is the first time in many years the South West has been in overall financial balance.
In a statement they said: "There has been some concern expressed on the financial challenges faced by some NHS organisations in the South West.
"While financial deficits have always only been a very small proportion of total NHS expenditure, they have quite rightly caused concern to patients and the public, especially when accompanied with proposals for major service change.
"This position has been achieved by significant action, improvement and progress by NHS organisations in the South West.
"Organisations have focused strongly on managing their spending, have made efficiency savings, and have reduced overhead costs, whilst still delivering high-quality NHS services for patients and users. Some tough decisions have had to be made."
They say the forecast surplus of £55m - the final audited accounts will be published later this year - represents one per cent of the region's budget of nearly £7bn.
"It is a pleasing result and one that should help restore confidence. The NHS is now starting to manage its resources in a way that is consistent with what patients, the public and the taxpayer expect."
Tory Weston MP John Penrose is calling on the Government to intervene to protect the resort's NHS services from "further morale shattering cuts and service reductions".
He said North Somerset was the only area in the whole region with a "double deficit" - £8.7m for the PCT and £6.6m for the hospital. "The plain and simple truth is they still aren't getting enough money. The Government's own funding formula shows the PCT should be getting £9m more this year," he said.
Millions going unspent as NHS is back in black
30 May 2007 Bristol Evening Post
Millions of pounds are going unspent by health trusts in the Bristol area.
Most hospitals, primary care trusts and other health providers in the greater Bristol area reported a surplus for the financial year 2006 to 2007, with some having more than £6 million to spare.
However Weston Area Health Trust (WAHT) has bucked the trend, having overspent by more than £6.5m in the last financial year.
North Somerset PCT also reported a huge overspend of £8,756,000 from its £230m budget in the provisional figures, although it said it is on track to balance the books by the end of this financial year.
Tory Weston MP John Penrose is calling on the Government to intervene to protect the resort's NHS services from "further morale shattering cuts and service reductions".
He said North Somerset was the only area in the whole region with a "double deficit" - £8.75m for the PCT and £6.5m for the hospital.
The Great Western Ambulance Trust, which was formed from the merger of three other trusts last year, came in £1,430,000 over budget, in what is seen as being the trust's consolidation period.
Provisional figures are due to be published next month, but figures obtained through health trusts suggest the NHS underspent by nearly half a billion pounds last year after a series of cutbacks.
Health unions have said the figures demonstrate the NHS does have money available for the 2.5 per cent pay increase they are calling for.
All healthcare trusts are required to finish a financial year either on or under their budget for the whole year.
United Bristol Healthcare Trust (UBHT) reported a deficit of £1,114,000 on its £372.5m budget for the last financial year, which it saw as a "satisfactory result", at just 0.3 per cent of turnover.
A spokesman said: "UBHT's small surplus was achieved through sound financial control and planning.
"The trust is again planning to generate a small surplus in 2007-2008, which it is required to do in order to repay part of its historical deficit."
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) completed the year with an £85,000 surplus from its £350m budget, which saw it complete a four-year recovery plan after a £52m overspend.
WAHT reported an overspend of £6,673,000 for the past year and has a total debt of £21.7m.
Spokeswoman Caroline Thomas said the trust will be on a more financially sound footing at the end of this financial year as it will have made the last of its payments back to the Department of Health.
She said: "This year Weston Area Health NHS Trust had to pay the Department of Health a fixed transition payment of £7.8m - and a similar payment of £6.8m is due next year - irrespective of the work we have done and actually been paid for. In a year's time the trust should no longer have to pay back these sums."
Shirley Billson, a spokeswoman for GWAT, said: "We came into being on April 1 last year and regard this year as one of consolidation. We hope to break even come this financial year.
"This is the first year we have moved from three trusts into one and it takes some time for all of the changes to work their way through."
Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust ended the year with a surplus of £3,176,000, an improvement on 2005/06 when they were £2,789,000 in the red.
Bristol's Primary Care Trust made savings of £6,315,000 on its £557m budget for the year.
Savings were also made due to the Trust being created from the merger of Bristol North and Bristol South and West PCTs back in October.
Spokeswoman Julie Hendry said: "Savings were made late in the financial year on areas that were difficult to predict.
"We have been working with practices to reduce spending on drugs and over prescribing - this paid off as we did reduce the drugs expenditure but did not know until a late stage.
"All the money will be reinvested to be spent this year."
South Gloucestershire PCT reported a comparatively small saving of just £30,000 for the last financial year from its budget of £276,450m.
A spokeswoman said: "This is effectively a break-even position. There are plans to invest more than £700,000 in 2007/08 in improved community services targeted at reducing inappropriate hospital stays and facilitating patients remaining at home where appropriate."
B&NES PCT underspent by £1.184m on a budget of £218m.
A spokeswoman said: "The underspend is due to the late notification of some allocations.
"The PCT will be making further progress on waiting times in 2007/8.
"There are a range of areas where the PCT is anticipating further spending in the coming months."
North Somerset PCT has ensured it has tighter control of budgets.
Spokeswoman Debbie Pugh-Jones said: "North Somerset Primary Care Trust's Local Delivery Plan shows the organisation returning to balance by the end of this current financial year and contributing £3.6m to the repayment of a £15.6m historic debt which it is aiming to pay off over four years.
"The PCT has introduced a range of financial policies to ensure that it spends within its means."
Strategic Health Authority chairman Sir Michael Pitt and chief executive Sir Ian Curruthers said it is the first time in many years that the South West has been in overall financial balance.
In a statement they said: "There has been some concern at the financial challenges faced by some NHS organisations in the South West.
"While financial deficits have always only been a very small proportion of total NHS expenditure, they have quite rightly caused concern to patients and the public."
Don't ignore your prostate, says MP
29 March 2007
Weston MP John Penrose is backing a campaign to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
Speaking at an event in Parliament, organised by the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action, to mark Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, Mr Penrose said: "Prostate cancer has been a taboo subject for far too long.
"As with other cancers, patients who are diagnosed earlier have a greater range of treatment options.
"That is why it is so important that we raise awareness of this major killer.
"Based on average UK figures, in Weston alone, 50 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, 15 of whom will die from the disease.
"That's why I want to encourage all men in Weston to be aware of their prostate, what it does and what can go wrong.
"If men are concerned, they should go directly to their GP.
"Alternatively, the Weston urology service receives referrals from PCTs across our area. "Patients with suspected cancers including prostate, bladder, renal, testicular and penile, could be seen in the general urology clinics."
Prostate is the biggest form of cancer diagnosed in men and a major killer, with more than 10,000 men dying from the disease every year in the UK.
Don't suffer in silence
21 March 2007
A 50-year-old man has a one-in-11 chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. It is a disease that many do not want to talk about but, during what is prostate cancer awareness week, ALEISHA SCOTT talks to one man who is not shy of telling his story
It's a condition that strikes down thousands of men every year but most feel too embarrassed to break the taboo by speaking up to help others.
Every year in the South West 2,240 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 1,030 die from the disease.
Retired medical rep Bill Shrosbree, of Chipping Sodbury, was determined not to let it get the better of him.
He said: "You have to fight it. I believe in the power of positive thinking. There is no point in saying 'I have cancer so that's it, I'm going to die'."
His optimistic outlook and expert treatment during his two-year fight means the 77-year-old is now on the road to good health.
Mr Shrosbree, who is married to Joy, 78, said his cancer was caught at an early stage but he knew many other men were not so lucky.
"It's so common in men over the age of 50," he said.
"Women go for breast screening and I think men should go for regular screening, too. Many people do not even know they have prostate cancer until it's too late."
Despite being the most common cancer affecting men, few people know what to look out for.
The prostate is situated below the bladder and its main function is to store and secrete a clear fluid that makes up part of semen. The prostate also contains muscles that help expel semen.
Mr Shrosbree's diagnosis in March 2005 came out of the blue. Apart from a little tiredness, he had not had any symptoms.
Twenty years ago Mr Shrosbree had a benign tumour on his pituitary gland, which secretes hormones into the body. Following a series of operations and radiotherapy he took testosterone as a hormone replacement therapy for the next two decades.
"One day I got a letter from Bristol Royal Infirmary saying that because I had been taking testosterone for so long they would like to see whether it had had any side-effects," he said.
"I went to Southmead Hospital and had a few tests and they discovered I had prostate cancer and the beginnings of bladder cancer," said Mr Shrosbree, who now works in a Yate DIY store.
"I had radiotherapy every day for seven weeks, which was very tiring but the staff at Southmead were brilliant."
The risk increases with age. Most men diagnosed are over 50, but it can affect men from about 40.
Men are two and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer if their father, brother or son has had it. There is also a higher risk for those with an Afro-Caribbean background.
Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose has joined the campaign.
Speaking at an event to mark Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, he said: "Prostate cancer has been a taboo subject for far too long. As with other cancers, patients who are diagnosed earlier have a greater range of treatment options. That is why it is so important that we raise awareness of this major killer."
The Prostate Cancer Research Centre spends £1 million every year on research. It says survival rates for advanced prostate cancer have improved little in the past 50 years.
Senior urology consultant Raj Persad is based at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and works for the Prostate Health Partnership in Midsomer Norton. He said early detection of prostate cancer makes a big difference in survival rates.
"Prostate disease can affect quality of life in the same way as heart disease but little is known by the general public about the signs and symptoms of prostate disease," he said. "In one survey, only 15 per cent of men knew where their prostate was. I would recommend that anyone with any symptoms sees their GP as soon as possible.
"There is no need to feel embarrassed and early diagnosis means the entire and most effective state-of-the-art treatments are available.
"One condition called prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland and it affects many men.
"It can make it difficult and painful to urinate and some men can develop retention of urine and require urgent medical treatment. Symptoms include fever, lower back pain, groin pain and it can affect your libido."
Breaking killer that
20 March 2007
Prostate cancer is a disease that many men do not want to talk about. But it affects four in seven men. At the start of prostate cancer awareness week, Aleisha Scott talks to one man who is not embarrassed to tell the story of how he overcame the disease
It's a condition that strikes down tens of thousands of people every year but most feel to awkward to speak up and break the taboo in order to help others.
Prostate cancer, like all illnesses, has no respect for fame or status and Sean Connery, Nelson Mandela, and Wurzel Tommy Banner have all battled and beaten the insidious illness.
Bill Shrosbree, of South Gloucestershire, could just have been another statistic claimed by the disease but was determined not to let cancer get the better of him.
"You have to fight it," said the retired medical rep, who lives in Chipping Sodbury. "I believe in the power of positive thinking."
"There is no point in saying 'I have cancer so that's it, I'm going to die'."
His optimistic outlook and expert medical treatment during his two-year fight against prostate cancer means the 77-year-old is now on the road to good health.
Mr Shrosbree, who is married to Joy, 78, said his cancer was caught an early stage but he knew many other men were not so lucky. "It's so common in men over the age of 50," he said.
"Women go for breast screening and I think men should go for regular screening too. Many people do not even know they have prostate cancer until it's too late. Some men may not recognise that there is anything wrong."
Despite being the most common cancer affecting men, few people know what to look out for.
EVERY year in the South West 2,240 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 1,030 die from the disease.
The prostate is situated below the bladder and its main function is to store and secrete a clear fluid that makes up part of semen. The prostate also contains muscles that help expel semen.
Mr Shrosbree's diagnosis in March 2005 came completely out of the blue.
Apart from a little tiredness, he had not felt unwell and had not seen any symptoms. The cause of his cancer could have been something more sinister.
Twenty years ago Mr Shrosbree had a benign tumour on his pituitary gland, which secretes hormones into the body.
Following a series of operations and radiotherapy he took testosterone as a hormone replacement therapy for the next two decades.
"One day I got a letter from Bristol Royal Infirmary saying that because I had been taking testosterone for so long they would like to see whether it had had any side-effects," he said.
"I went to Southmead Hospital and had a few tests and they discovered I had prostate cancer and the beginnings of bladder cancer," said Mr Shrosbree.
He started a course of radiotherapy to kill the cancer cells.
"I had radiotherapy every day for seven weeks, which was very tiring but the staff at Southmead were brilliant," he said. "I now have to go back every three months for check-ups but things are going well."
Although he retired at 65, he now works in a Yate DIY store. His appetite for life and work have clearly not been dimmed by his brush with death.
The risk of getting prostate cancer gets higher with age. Most men who are diagnosed are over the age of 50, but it can affect men from the age of about 40. Men are two and a half times more likely to get prostate cancer if their father, brother or son has had it.
There is also a higher risk for people from an Afro-Caribbean background.
Weston-super-Mare MP John Penrose has joined the campaign. Speaking at an event in Parliament to mark Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, Mr Penrose said: "Prostate cancer has been a taboo subject for far too long.
AS with other cancers, patients who are diagnosed earlier have a greater range of treatment options. That is why it is so important that we raise awareness of this major killer."
The Prostate Cancer Research Centre spends £1 million every year on research. It says survival rates for advanced prostate cancer have improved little in the past 50 years.
Senior Urology Consultant Raj Persad is based at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and works for the Prostate Health Partnership in Midsomer Norton.
He says early detection of prostate cancer makes a big difference in survival rates.
"Prostate disease can affect quality of life in the same way as heart disease but little is known by the general public about the signs and symptoms of prostate disease," he said.
"In one survey, only 15 per cent of men knew where their prostate was.
"I would recommend that anyone with any symptoms sees their GP as soon as possible. There is no need to feel embarrassed and early diagnosis means the entire and most effective state-of-the-art treatments are available.
"One condition called prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland and it affects many men.
"It can make it difficult and painful to urinate, and some men can develop retention of urine and require urgent medical treatment. Symptoms include fever, lower back pain, groin pain and it can affect your libido."
Busy hospital in MRSA risk scare
15 March 2007 Weston & Worle News
Patients at Weston Hospital are at risk of contracting MRSA and other deadly superbugs because of overcrowded wards, it was claimed this week.
New figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that 96.2 per cent of beds at Weston Area Health Trust (WAHT), which manages Weston Hospital, were found to be occupied during a snapshot survey last year.
This was the 12th highest occupancy rate in England.
Government infection control experts have warned that hospitals need to force occupancy rates below 85 per cent if they are to win the war against MRSA and other superbugs, such as clostridium dificile.
Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "The simple truth is that in hospitals where targets dictate where patients are kept, and where beds are filled to bursting point, nurses are not able to isolate patients and clean wards to beat bugs."
A WAHT spokesman said: "We may have high occupancy rates, but have one of the lowest MRSA rates in the south west. However, we are not complacent, and take hospital-acquired infections very seriously.
"All beds and bed spaces are thoroughly cleaned between patients. We work very closely with the infection control team within the trust to identify and isolate patients at risk."
Weston MP John Penrose said: "Weston Hospital has had to be tremendously efficient because it gets less government funding per patient compared to most other places.
"I know that the staff have been working tremendously hard to reduce the amount of MRSA for some time but, clearly, improved funding would take the pressure off."
Overcrowded wards spark fears of bug risk
13 March 2007 Bristol Evening Post
Patients at two major hospitals in the West are at risk of contracting MRSA and other deadly superbugs because of overcrowded wards, it was claimed yesterday.
New figures obtained by the Liberal Democrats show that 96.2 per cent of beds at Weston Area Health Trust - which manages Weston General Hospital - were found to be occupied during a snapshot survey last year.
This was the 12th highest occupancy rate in England.
Meanwhile, a total of 95.2 per cent of the beds at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) Bath Trust were occupied during the survey in September - the 18th highest rate in the country.
Government's infection-control experts have warned that hospitals need to force occupancy rates below 85 per cent if they are to win the war against MRSA and other superbugs such as clostridium difficile.
Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb said: "The simple truth is that in hospitals where targets dictate where patients are kept and where beds are filled to bursting point, nurses are not able to isolate patients and clean wards to beat the bugs."
A spokeswoman for Weston Area Health Trust said: "We may have high occupancy rates but have one of the lowest MRSA rates in the South West, however we are not complacent and take hospital acquired infection very seriously.
"All beds and bed spaces are thoroughly cleaned between patients. We work very closely with the infection control team within the trust to identify and isolate patients at risk," she said.
Weston-super-Mare Tory MP John Penrose said: "Weston Hospital has had to be tremendously efficient because it gets less government funding per patient compared to most other places.
"I know that the staff of Weston have been working tremendously hard to reduce the amount of MRSA for some time but clearly improved funding would take the pressure off."
Francesca Thompson, director of nursing at the RUH, said the RUH recently implemented an MRSA improvement programme which was so effective that the Department of Health asked the trust to share it with other hospitals. Key action areas include appropriate antibiotic prescribing and the prompt isolation of patients with MRSA and other healthcare associated infections.
Politicians back alzheimer's bid
30 November 2006
Weston & Worle News
A protest meeting against government restrictions on drugs for dementia sufferers was a big success, according to its main organiser.
Pensioner Pearl Collman, whose husband Peter, aged 73, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2004, set up the meeting for carers at Ebdon Court, the former Poppyfields site, in Worle, which was attended by Weston MP John Penrose and former MP, Lord Cotter of Congresbury.
The North Somerset branch of the Alzheimer's Society discussed a decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to restrict dementia drugs to the middle or later stages of the disease due to financial reasons.
There has been a nationwide campaign of meetings and demonstrations to reverse the decision.
Mrs Collman, 70, who has campaigned to save Poppyfields, a North Somerset Council home for dementia sufferers, from closure, said: "The meeting was very positive, with Lord Cotter and Mr Penrose both pledging to write to the health minister.
"The question is how much money is the Government saving by not giving the tablets sooner when they then have to help to pay for people in care if they don't get the tablets?
"It's not just the patients who suffer - it's the carers who are not able to carry on if they are not given the help in the beginning in the form of medication.
"The symptoms are more aggressive at the start and patients get quieter as the disease progresses."
Pearl is helping to set up a support group for carers of new dementia sufferers called PROP - People Relying On People, for which she hopes Lord Cotter will become patron.
Weston Homemakers will present the Alzheimer's Society with a £4,500 cheque at its meeting in January.
Drug ruling disaster for the forgetful
30th November 2006
Weston Mercury
NEW Government guidelines spell disaster for Alzheimer's patients - according to the wife of a sufferer.
Jo Lewis has been caring for her husband, former RAF pilot John, since he was diagnosed with the disease four years ago.
But two weeks ago the Government announced that the Aricept tablets 81-year-old John takes to help with his illness will no longer be available on the NHS for new patients.
Jo, aged 75, said: "The tablets John takes stops the illness from progressing into the later stages. It has held it back for him.
"John is forgetful. He can't go out without me and he can't even remember the date.
"People who can't get the tablets from now on won't be able to cope. I have seen how much people can deteriorate.
"I want to help sufferers get the tablets on the NHS as much as I can because we both feel it isn't fair."
Although John, who has seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren, will still be able to get his tablets for free, anyone who develops the early stages of the illness from now on will have to pay £2.50 a day for their medication. The same applies for two other types of tablets.
Last Friday a meeting was held at Poppyfields care home in Ebdon Court in Trenleigh Drive, Worle, to discuss the new guidelines.
Weston MP John Penrose went to the meeting and has vowed to take the issue to the House of Commons.
Mr Penrose said after the meeting: "I have written to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to ask questions about the decision that has been made.
"The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) made the recommendations to the Government to no longer allow the tablets to be available on the NHS.
"I'm saying it needs to publish the reasons behind its decisions. There is a lot of mistrust because it is not.
"It is also saying there is not enough effect on the early symptoms of Alzheimer's to justify the cost involved. But it needs to say what would be a suitable cost and then pharmaceutical companies and the NHS may be able to some to some kind of agreement.
"My final comment in the letter addressed the fact that if you withdraw the drugs the implications regarding more people going into homes is severe as more individuals won't be able to look after themselves.
NHS cash
Weston Mercury 17th November 2006
Weston's MP has called on the Treasury to help protect the town's cash strapped NHS services.
John Penrose says NHS Trusts in the area have a 'monumental mountain to climb' and is calling on Government officials in the Treasury to protect local services from further cuts.
Mr Penrose's intervention comes after the Department of Health published figures reporting that North Somerset Primary Care Trust is now showing an £11million deficit and Weston Area Health Trust has a £5million deficit, down from nearly £7million last year.
Mr Penrose said: "I want to prevent further job losses and service cutbacks in North Somerset. This would shatter morale and decimate our local health services.”
PEER, MP JOIN DRUGS BATTLE
Weston & Worle News 16th November 2006
A campaign to reverse government restrictions on drugs for dementia sufferers is being backed by Weston MP John Penrose and former MP Lord Cotter of Congre-sbury.
The pair are due to meet carers at Ebdon Court, the former Poppyfields site, in Worle, tomorrow to discuss a decision by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to restrict dementia drugs to the middle or later stages of the disease for financial reasons.
The meeting has been organised by pensioner Pearl Collman, whose husband Peter, aged 73, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2004, and the North Somerset branch of the Alzheimer's Society as part of a nationwide campaign to get the decision reversed.
Mrs Collman, 70, who has campaigned to keep open Poppyfields, a North Somerset Council home for dementia sufferers, said: "These drugs are needed for early sufferers as well as those in the middle and later stages.
"I will keep fighting because we have to get our voices heard."
PETITION AGAINST CUTS AT WESTON HOSPITAL
Weston Mercury 20th October 2006
Hundreds of residents have put their name to an NHS petition organised by Weston Conservatives.
MP John Penrose joined party activists at Big Lamp Corner to gather nearly 900 names to a petition against cuts at Weston General Hospital and Labour’s handling of the NHS.
The list will be sent with other petitions to Downing Street.
North Somerset Conservative leader Councillor Mike Roe said: “The day was very successful, with Weston residents showing how important the National Health Service is to them.”
ANNUAL CHECK-UP REVEALS AN AILING HEALTH TRUST
Cheddar Valley Gazette 19th Oct 2006
The Annual Health Check has found that Weston Area Health NHS Trust could be significantly improved.The health check, which replaces the previous system of performance star ratings, is derived from an assessment of the trust's performance in relation to use of resources and quality of services, as well as its attainment of national targets and standards.
The trust was given a rating of "weak" for its quality of services and for failing to meet core standards set by the Government.
Only 6.9 per cent of trusts across England have been awarded this rating.
The hospital was given an overall score of "good" for admissions management, while the diagnostic services were labelled "fair".
Medicines management was also stuck with a "weak" score.
The organisation also failed to demonstrate that it had adequate arrangements for managing its finances.
"There is plenty of evidence that this trust is being successful," said Weston Area Health Trust Chief Executive, Mark Gritten.
"We are in the CHKS (an independent provider of comparative healthcare information) Top 40 hospitals in England for the second consecutive year and just last week we were named in the top three trusts in the country for increasing clinical productivity.
"We have very low rates of cancelled operations, our MRSA rate is also coming down steadily and our cleanliness standards are improving due to recent investment in housekeeping staff and their training and supervision.
"The pace of change is fast within the trust and we have already improved since this judgement was made.
"I am certain that next year's Health Check will reflect these improvements."
Meanwhile, the MP for Weston-Super-Mare, John Penrose, has asked for an urgent briefing on the state of finances at the trust after it reported to have identified an additional £10 million deficit in its yearly accounts.
"I already have a meeting scheduled in my diary to meet with the management team at the trust," said Mr Penrose.
"But these reports are so disturbing that I need an urgent briefing on the implications for our local health services.
"The trust has previously reported a deficit of £4.213 million.
"If they are adding another £10 million on top of that, the situation can only be described as very grave.
"Is the Treasury going to insist that the trust reduces all that deficit through savings within the current financial year?
"If so, we face job losses and service cutbacks that would completely decimate local health services."
MIXED VIEWS AS PCT DEBT HITS £14.5M
Weston and Worle News 19th Oct 2006
The British Medical Association has dismissed North Somerset Primary Care Trust's extra £10.3 million debt as simply being part of the NHS's recycling debt merry-go-round.
Bristol GP and BMA area spokesman Dr Tom Frewin said last week's revelation that the PCT had lost another £10.3 million, on top of last year's reported loss of £4.2 million, is shocking.
But he said the news did not come as a surprise and was a result of the Government's policy of moving money around different trusts to boost figures.
He said: "If one authority shows profit, the money is just moved to another in order to boost figures.
"This means the profits of the different organisations are never entirely transparent as they can always be boosted by someone else's money.
"If a company did this they would be brought to rights straight away.
"The recycling of debt in the health community is a major problem and it is silly that the Government has let this carry on for so long."
Dr Frewin suggested the NHS should start afresh so trusts could be judged on how they were doing now, and not on debts gained 10 to 15 years ago.
He said: "Some of these authorities are getting bad ratings but they are actually doing very well. The negative results just come from debts they inherited years ago.
"Why don't we start from a new baseline and stop this artificial moving of money, so that the performance of each organisation is entirely transparent?"
Bosses at the PCT, who are responsible for local doctors, opticians and dentists, were hit by the news of the added debt in the same week as they were ranked in the bottom 14 per cent in the country for their handling of finances and the quality of the service they provide.
The discovery has prompted Weston MP John Penrose to ask for an urgent briefing on the state of the organisation's finances, as he warned the trust could face massive job losses and service cutbacks.
He said: "If they are adding another £10 million onto the already stated £4.2 million, then the situation can only be described as very grave.
"This is a financial black hole of epic proportions.
"If the Treasury insist that the PCT reduces all that deficit through savings within the current financial year, we face job losses and service cutbacks that would completely decimate local health services."
A North Somerset PCT spokesman said: "We have identified additional financial pressures within the PCT's budget for this year and are currently quantifying them.
"A full report will be made to the board on Friday, October 27, and decisions on actions will then be taken.
"There has been no change to the annual accounts for last year."
The added debt represents almost five per cent of the PCT budget, which was £219 million for 2005-06 and is £228 million for 2006-07.
HIGHS AND LOWS OF TOWN'S HEALTHCARE EXAMINED
Weston Mercury 13th October 2006
HEALTHCARE in Weston has been rated as 'weak' in the same week as an urgent meeting has been called after a £10million deficit was revealed.
The Healthcare Commission's Annual Health Check gave poor ratings for Weston Area Health Trust's (WAHT) and North Somerset Primary Care Trust's (PCT) use of resources and quality of services.
Weston's MP John Penrose has requested the urgent briefing with PCT bosses to explain a £10million deficit revealed in end of year accounts.
Both trusts were slammed for not providing the correct or enough evidence for sections of the assessment.
Hospital bosses blame WAHT's poor performance on a £6.9m deficit and their decision to put resources into patient care rather than collecting evidence for the assessment.
The Health Commission tested the hospital on 44 standards including clinical effectiveness, children's services, how it consulted patients and financial management.
The report criticises the hospital for failing to provide evidence of the training of pharmacists, training staff in the Human Rights Act, not carrying out enough patient surveys and not providing literature in different languages.
None of the standards missed were due to failures in treatment or cleanliness.
However, WAHT was listed in the top three most efficient trusts in England by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement last week.
It was also awarded an 'excellent' rating for reducing MRSA rates and deaths from heart disease and stroke.
Mark Gritten, chief executive of WAHT, said a senior-level member of staff would be employed to gather the evidence and put a system in place to improve next year's rating.
He said: "The staff will be very disappointed on being rated as weak on quality of services when it's just not true."
"We produced a lot of evidence but it was not the right evidence.
"We have already improved since the judgement was made and I am confident that the next year's assessment will reflect these improvements.
"We have just started work on the construction of our new children's ward which is planned to open in January and we are looking forward to the future with confidence."
Weston General Hospital also ranked third in the country for reducing the amount of time patients have to spend in wards before their operations and increasing the amount of surgery carried out.
Mr Penrose said: "These reports are so disturbing that I need an urgent briefing on the implications for our local health services.
"The Trust has previously reported a deficit of £4.213million. If they are adding another £10million on top of that, then the situation can only be described as very grave. This is a financial black hole of epic proportions.
"The NHS Institute for innovation and Improvement has just ranked Weston General Hospital as one of the three most cost efficient hospitals in the country, so for the Health Commission to say the use of resources is poor is clearly madness."
PCT chief executive Chris Born said: "We've identified additional financial pressures within the PCT's budget for this year and are currently quantifying them.
"The Healthcare Commission's Assessment has shown that we must put more effort into organising and reporting our work so that we can assure ourselves that our commissioning and providing of services are both fully effective. I appreciate that this has been a weakness in the past, but the PCT is now ready to move on under new leadership and tackle challenges like this with renewed purpose and vigour.
""We have a number of exciting initiatives underway, such as a new GP premises planned for Portishead and Weston and a project team working on a community hospital in Clevedon."
A full report on the deficit will be made to the PCT board on October 27.