St Michael's Hospital has provided crucial care to meet the needs of the local community. A vital service that needs saved now.

There is no such thing as a “safe” level of air pollution. And while air pollution affects us all, older people, children, people of colour, and people living in poverty are hit the hardest. Mayors, national governments, and all those in power across the political spectrum, must take bold action on air pollution. Getting the most polluting vehicles off our roads – especially those powered by dirty diesel – is a key first step. But this must be backed up with far more investment in walking, cycling and green public transport that is accessible and affordable for all Londoners in all boroughs. Leaders across the country and the world are looking to take similar action on toxic air. What happens here will inspire so many others. This is a chance for London to lead the global movement for clean air, as cities around the world turn to us for inspiration and guidance on how to tackle this deadly challenge. We can’t afford to delay. Clean Air Wins is supported by C40 Cities and the UK Healthy Air Coalition, a collective of leading health, environment and transport organisations with the shared vision of a UK free from toxic air.

We are deeply troubled by the imminent closure of the Glasgow Bipolar Hub. The Hub is a ground-breaking and much-needed resource for individuals living with bipolar disorder in Glasgow and beyond. Since its launch in 2020, the Glasgow Bipolar Hub has served as a beacon of hope and healing for countless individuals and families. As highlighted in the recent article "Bipolar treatment hub launched in Gorbals becomes first in the world" published in the Glasgow Times on 29th June 2020, the establishment of this hub marked a historic moment as the first of its kind worldwide. It not only showcased Glasgow's commitment to mental health care but also set a remarkable precedent for other regions. The Glasgow Bipolar Hub has played a pivotal role in transforming the lives of individuals battling bipolar disorder by providing specialized treatment, support, and a nurturing community. The hub's holistic approach, which combines evidence-based therapies, medication management, peer support, and educational programs, has yielded remarkable results. Through comprehensive care plans and personalized interventions, the Hub has helped countless individuals regain control over their lives and fostered a sense of belonging and empowerment. Furthermore, the Glasgow Bipolar Hub has served as a catalyst for destigmatizing mental health conditions. By raising public awareness and engaging in community outreach initiatives, the Hub has played a significant role in dismantling societal prejudices and promoting acceptance, understanding, and compassion. However, we have recently received distressing news that the Glasgow Bipolar Hub is being closed due to funding challenges and resource constraints. This disheartening prospect has left us deeply concerned about the welfare and well-being of those who rely on the services provided by the Hub. Closure would result in a devastating loss for individuals with bipolar disorder, their families, and the wider community. We believe that mental health care should be a fundamental priority for our society, and the closure of such a vital institution undermines the progress we have made in advocating for mental health rights. We cannot afford to let this beacon of hope extinguish when the need for accessible and comprehensive mental health support is more crucial than ever. We cannot allow this essential facility to be shut down. It is our responsibility to ensure that individuals living with bipolar disorder have access to the resources and support they require to lead fulfilling lives. By signing the Bipolar Hub Closure Petition, you can play a crucial role in urging the relevant authorities and stakeholders to take immediate action to save this invaluable resource. Let us join hands and stand together to protect the Glasgow Bipolar Hub, preserving a lifeline for mental health care and ensuring a brighter future for all those affected by bipolar disorder. How You Can Help: Sign the Petition and add your name to the growing list of concerned individuals demanding the continuation of the Bipolar Hub's services. Share Widely: Spread the word about this petition through social media platforms, email, and personal conversations. Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to join the cause and sign the petition as well. Contact Local Representatives: Reach out to your local representatives, politicians, and influential figures to express your concerns and ask for their support in preserving the Bipolar Hub. Highlight the positive impact it has had on the community and emphasize the urgent need for financial assistance. Time is of the essence, and we must act swiftly to prevent the closure of the Bipolar Hub. By signing the petition, spreading awareness, and engaging with local authorities, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of those affected by bipolar disorder. Together, let us advocate for the continued operation of the Bipolar Hub and ensure that the necessary support and resources remain accessible to those who need them the most. Thank you for your attention and your commitment to this vital cause.

I have tried unsuccessfully to bring to the public domain, the mismanagement of the NHS Dental Services. I had some personal emails from friends and colleagues responding to my own situation having lost our local dental services without any forward notice. One day, 3 weeks ago, we were NHS patients in Genix our local Dentist service, in Alnwick, to receive an abrupt message to say we cannot to continue unless we had to change to Private Practice. I contacted the Local Authority Northumberland County Council the Northumberland HealthWatchOrganisation without any success. Our local Tory MP did not respond to our plea for help. I was tipped off that there was a Parliament Backbench Business debate last week on Thursday April 23rd. 13 years of Tory mismanagement of the health service has seeing dentists quitting in droves. 2,000 dentists quit the NHS in 2021, around 10% of all dentists employed in England. An estimated 4 million people can’t access NHS care and with some parts of the country now described as ‘dentistry deserts’, because remaining NHS dentists aren’t taking on new patients. In real terms, net Government spend on general dental practices in England has been cut by over a third over the past decade, with the number of NHS dental practices in England falling by more than 1,200 in the five years prior to the pandemic. Labour will put patients first and make sure they can be seen on time. The last Labour government reduced waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks. The next Labour government will secure the future of NHS dentistry, providing the staff, equipment and modern technology needed to ensure patients get the treatment they need. Interventions We spend less on dentistry per head of population in the areas with the highest levels of deprivation, and stats from the BDA suggest that 1 million new or expectant mothers have lost access to dental care since the start of the pandemic. What is the Government doing to prevent those from low income or vulnerable groups being disproportionately impacted? Tooth extraction in hospitals due tooth decay remains the most common reason for hospital admissions in the 6–10-year-old age group, with an estimated cost of hospital admissions for children aged 0 to 19-years for this intervention being £33 million per year. Does the minister agree that this is utterly shameful? With 91% of dental practices not able to accept new adult patients in England, and 80% not able to accept new child patients, millions are facing the unpalatable options of waiting for months in agony, resorting to DIY dentistry or coughing up private dental fees they simply can’t afford. What is the Minister doing to tackle the crisis in dentistry? From inadequate support for prevention of oral ill health in childhood to dentistry deserts, net Government spend on general dental practices in England has been cut by over a third over the past decade. Can the Minister explain why his government have let things get so bad? Not enough has been done to recruit and retain both dentists and dental care professionals and a recent BDA member survey showed more than 9 in 10 owners of dental practices with a high NHS commitment found it difficult to recruit a dentist, with 43% of vacancies unfilled for more than 6 months. Can the Minister explain why the Government have so far failed to publish the NHS workforce plan? Can this matter not be of national concern like previous petitions from 38 degrees regarding the Tory Government recently, especially the Health Minister! We need your help to raise the dire awareness of the current NHS Dental Provision?

Midwifery students in Kent have been working incredibly hard for up to 3 years - many are weeks away from qualifying and many won't be able to finish the course, meaning they won't be able to practise. They have sacrificed other careers, time with family, have taken on debt and worked long hours for free at our local hospitals, some of them through the pandemic. Our local midwives have put hard work into mentoring them. Without a new pool of newly qualified midwives locally, out hospitals who already have low staffing levels will struggle to recruit to the levels they need, meaning that local families needing maternity care will suffer unless something can be done.

Our local NHS pharmacies are on the brink of collapse, despite having proven during the pandemic that they are more needed now than ever. Since 2015, their funding has been cut by 40% and 1400 pharmacies have permanently closed, putting vital NHS services at risk. Without fair funding from the Government, many more pharmacies will be forced to close. One important step the government can take is to commit to fully funding the 'Pharmacy First' Service in England so people with minor illnesses can be treated on the NHS by their local pharmacy, instead of having to wait to see a GP for a prescription. Community pharmacies provide vital health and social care in communities across the country, including the most deprived neighbourhoods. Please back our local pharmacies – so they can continue to keep people well and save lives!

Letting the suppliers of such new products having nicotine, have such free reign, is causing a problem for retailers' trading standards and guardians of children. The lack of rules and regulations compared to other nicotine products needs to be addressed. Promotion and marketing need to be closely monitored because of the tactics already used, and flavours such as sweets, confectionary, and desserts. They are all too appealing to young people. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-khan-review-making-smoking-obsolete/making-smoking-obsolete-summary? 3. Promote vaping The government must embrace the promotion of vaping as an effective tool to help people to quit smoking tobacco. We know vapes are not a ‘silver bullet’ nor are they totally risk-free, but the alternative is far worse.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK where an opt-out system for organ donation is not yet in place. This law has passed through the NI Assembly and been given Royal Assent, but is now delayed on a technicality because of the stalemate at Stormont. This law would give people like 6 year old Dáithí MacGabhann a better chance of a life-saving transplant. That's why people from all corners of the UK are demanding that the Secretary of State uses his powers to put this law in place now.

I have recently been diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 30. It was picked up on a smear test, I was very fortunate to be able to have an operation that has hopefully cured me (only time will tell). The age for smear tests is 25, yet the reason women get cervical cancer is due to the HPV virus that is in essence an STI (sexually transmitted infection). It starts as pre cancerous before it turns to cancer and there's not enough evidence to suggest that it takes 5 years to change from one to the other as that wasn't the case for me as i had a colposcopy in 2017, two biopsies and it came back clear. I was refused a smear in 2020 due to covid, yet I probably wouldn't have been in this situation had I have had one then. More and more younger girls are becoming sexually active. They are unknowing to whether they carry the virus or whether they have changes to their cells due to the fact they cannot have a smear because they are too young. I've met women that have had the vaccination and have still ended up with high risk HPV and changes to their cervix. Nothing is one hundred percent. Girls younger than 25 are dying or being diagnosed with cervical cancer because they haven't had the option of a smear test. Women are having babies earlier which also changes the cells in the cervix so smears should also be offered after having a baby. Something really needs to change. When I had my diagnosis I was told there's more and more women younger and of my own age that are in similar or the same situations as me. Everyone I've spoken with has agreed the age needs lowering. I have no idea where to start to but I'll try anything to try and get somewhere. I don't want anyone to go through what I have been through. I've been lucky enough to have children, but there's girls/women out there that may want a family some day and will lose that option due to the fact smears are not available to them all due to their age, plus taking into account having to potentially go through the menopause a lot earlier than the average age a woman goes through menopause and mental health that all comes with it. Please let's finally take this seriously. Let's think of the younger and older generation. Let's save lives. We need to change the age of smears, we need it lowering to stop so many cases of cervical cancer in younger women. Consider the ages of sexually active women/girls. The implications of not having a smear and having pre cancerous/cancerous changes go undetected. Women that miss out on having families, women going through early menopause, women dying. It's about time that it's looked at as an importance. Too many years have passed and it's spoken of but nothing ever gets done. Please let's make a change together to save lives.

The Epilepsy Society wants to revolutionise the treatment of epilepsy and give people hope of a life without seizures. They want to stop people dying from their epilepsy. By selling a part of their land in Buckinghamshire to house 975 homes they hope to raise £100 million which would be invested in cutting-edge research that would transform the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. Please sign our petition today and give people with epilepsy, hope.

Please sign this very important petition – it takes less than a minute – to improve men’s health and wellbeing in Scotland. With an alarming rise in suicide amongst Scottish men - 75% of the people who died by suicide in Scotland last year were male – and with already-stretched resources and reduced funding as demand for our services increases, the SMSA is lobbying for a directional change to ensure the charity is around to support future generations of Shedders and keep the spotlight on men’s health. The SMSA pledges to continue making a real difference by empowering thousands of men (our sons, brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers) and their communities - over the coming years - to play their part in a system change towards a wellbeing economy. By trailblazing this male health movement as we have from the beginning, we strive for social change to ultimately secure its future growth and the national statutory investment it rightly deserves. Kinross and District Men’s Shed’s Chairman David Conner said: “The SMSA has been a wonderful support and a great centre of information and advice. Without the SMSA, it is safe to say, we and some other local Sheds would not exist without their help steering us in the right direction—through the obstacles and bureaucracy that is thrown at you especially when starting something new— and enabling us to become self-sufficient.” Member Mike Kelly said: "Having a central driving force has been a huge asset to both new and established sheds. This is part of why men's sheds have been so successful in Scotland." #menssheds #menswellbeing #menshealth #menmatter #shedicine #nevermoreneeded

My handsome son Zak died because the health authorities and other institutions that were supposed to be caring for him, failed him miserably. A coroner has deemed the following: Healthcare failings in obtaining information so that a patient reveives their medication. Failings to provide patient discharge information relating to diagnosis, prescription and care plan details. Concerns relating to a lack of clarity over the meaning of the word "urgent" when a patient referral is made to the access and assessment team. Concerns that current healthcare guidelines, (in relation to patients that may be disengaging or non concorordant) are lacking and need perfecting. Zak's death was regarded as a Serious Incident by the trust that failed him. Zak was seen by a GP whilst under a trusts care, (6 weeks before he took his own life).The GP had serious concerns that Zak was paranoid, lacking capacity and dehydrated. Nothing was done and incredibly no notes seem to be available, to show if anything was done or what they did to help and support Zak. A different GP saw Zak again 18 days before he passed away. The GP made an urgent psychiatric referral but they did not have a clue about Zak's current medication or treatment plan because they had NO NOTES from the previous care provider. They had a legal duty of care to get Zak help and treatment. As it currently stands health authorities and other institutions where care is provided can say they have not got a patients notes or they cannot find them. There is a massive loophole in the current law which allows this to happen. The institutions and health authorities are allowed to say and I quote: " The notes may have been done or they may not have been done", as an excuse for not providing a patients notes. How can this be either morally or ethically right in 2022 when notes have been computerised to try to stop this from happening. How can they be allowed to get away with saying: " We do not have the notes, we had no access to that computer system or we cannot find the notes or they may have been done or they may not have been done". Please please stop this from happening any more. God forbid it happens to your loved one. Jo Farmer