Tag: Edinburgh East Save Our Services

Campaign against ‘alarming’ cuts to health and social care

Edinburgh residents are being asked to write to their councillors and MSPs to stop devastating reductions in vital services.

Sexual health, support and rehabilitation for substance abuse, support for independent living and an improved quality of life for people with disabilities will all be affected by a £8.95m budget cut.

“These cuts to services go against the expressed desire of citizens and the Council to tackle poverty in our city”, says Lorna Frost of Edinburgh East Save Our Services. “It’s time to make sure our elected representatives really listen to us. 

“We have already emailed our councillors and MSPs and hope others will join us in doing this. An email that people can use or adapt is included below and the email addresses for councillors can be found here:

https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx) 

and MSPs here

https://beta.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps)”.

“The pandemic has shown how much we depend on good health care, good education & good services. Coming at any time these cuts would have a terrible impact on some of the most vulnerable people in our city.

“In the wake of lockdown and with the prospect of a winter second wave of Covid19, the effect will be devastating.

“What’s more, these cuts and any short term savings are false economies. Reducing services which ensure sexual health, support and rehabilitation for substance abuse, support for independent living and an improved quality of life for people with disabilities is inefficient economically. 

“We know we need each other and care for each other. Our elected representatives must concentrate on ensuring integrated, properly funded services to tackle the hardship and suffering many people face. 

“This may mean borrowing and putting pressure on the Scottish government to provide sufficient funding. But in every consultation Edinburgh folk have said that this support is more important than creating a playground for visitors.”  

Email below. Change it or send your own. For more information on campaigning go to EESOS Facebook page – all ideas welcome:

Dear …………….

We are alarmed at the current measures to reduce health and social care services in the city. (We refer to the Phase Zero cuts agreed by the EIJB (Edinburgh Integration Joint Board).

The expressed desire of citizens and the Council is to tackle poverty in Edinburgh. This is wanted for humanitarian reasons.

We are also certain that these cuts and any short term savings are false economies. Reducing services which ensure sexual health, support and rehabilitation for substance abuse, support for independent living and an improved quality of  life for people with disabilities is inefficient economically. 

Austerity policies and the current pandemic have shown up the lack of resilience in our public services. 

We call on you as our representatives to take a stand.  This may mean borrowing and putting pressure on the Scottish government for sufficient funding.

Please assure us that we can rely on you to commit to integrated, properly funded services to tackle the hardship and suffering many people face.

Regards

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Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership launches consultation on ‘Edinburgh Pact‘

Fill in our short survey and tell us what health and social care means to you.

What is the Edinburgh pact?

We want to build thriving communities in Edinburgh and embrace the opportunity to create a different type of relationship with residents, communities and organisations across the city. 

We are starting a conversation to build the Edinburgh Pact. The Edinburgh Pact will be an agreement between the Partnership and everyone who lives and works in Edinburgh. Our first step is to listen and learn what health and social care means to you. 

Judith Proctor, Chief Officer, explains why your ideas and comments are so important:

Why are we developing this now?  

During the pandemic we have seen people and communities across Edinburgh rally together to support one another, helping and caring for people who might be struggling.  We have also seen organisations and charities work together and produce solutions to support communities during this difficult time. We want to build on this.   

We know that we face some real challenges for our health and social care system. The population is ageing, demand for services is increasing and our funding is not expected to grow at the same rate as the population. We need to think boldly about what can be different. 

How do I get involved?  

Take a few minutes to fill in our short survey 

Council under fire over ‘undemocratic’ process

Edinburgh campaigners are concerned about the way the Council is operating during the Covid crisis. So far there has been no action to set up accessible virtual meetings of the Council – and Edinburgh East Save Our Services argues that people want an immediate return to a more transparent decision-making process.

“Since mid-March the city council has changed its way of operating,” said Lorna Frost of Edinburgh East Save our Services. “Other organisations have already formulated guidelines for meetings and it is timely for our Council to rethink the way it proceeds during the Covid crisis.

“Our community group wanted to take these issues up with the Council but our attempt to ‘talk about it’ has been rebuffed. In addition, our councillors,  who are our elected representatives, have been told any issues they raise with a council officer must be virus-related, but we think the current crises across our city – in care homes, schools, Lothian Buses and regarding poverty and mental health – are all virus-related.

“It is crucial that the Council re-engages fully with the people of Edinburgh,  their elected representatives,  and voluntary groups immediately.

“Community councils should also be reactivated in a secure way. We need to work together to tackle the severe issues of poverty and inequality arising from the Covid-crisis.”

Edinburgh East Save Our Services emailed council leader Adam McVey on Wednesday:

Dear Convener McVey

We would appreciate clarification on governance concerns, particularly on the following matter.

We have read the minutes of the April EDC LAP meeting and our understanding of: ‘To note that the Chief Executive would report to the first meeting of the Policy and Sustainability Committee in May 2020 on potential options for holding meetings of Full Council‘ is that accessible/transparent meetings of the Council and its committees may or may not go ahead depending on the report of the Chief Executive  tomorrow.

Our opinion is that it is very important that the affairs of the city are conducted in an open way, particularly in this time of crisis, and we want to let the Council know this.From our reading of the minutes it seems this decision has not already been taken, but that it will be taken tomorrow, and that is why we wanted to influence this decision.

You are responsible for and entrusted with the wellbeing of the people of Edinburgh and we are disappointed with your response and also the lack of any additional explanation.

It seems very difficult for residents to interact with their local authority in a meaningful way, if at all.

Regards

Lorna Frost (for Edinburgh East Save our Services)

The campaigners also sent the following questions by email:

EESOS submission to EDC PSC 14/5/20

Edinburgh East Save our Services submits the following questions to the meeting of the Policy and Sustainability Committee on Thursday 14th May 2020 at 10am.

The questions relate to the Council’s Interim Political Management Arrangements for 2020 (item 4 Minute of the LAP 23/4/20)

Why have no measures been taken to set up accessible virtual meetings of the Council and its committees since mid-March ?

How long does the Council intend to continue proceeding in this way? ( The Scottish government has already formulated guidelines for meetings.)

Why have restrictions (namely that any issues should be virus- related) been put on our councillors (our elected representatives) raising issues with a council officer?

What exactly are the criteria which define virus-related?

Aren’t the current crises across Edinburgh, in care homes, schools, Lothian Buses, poverty, and mental health virus-related?

Lorna said: “In reply we were told that the council refused to accept our submission. Convener Mcvey says it does not meet the requirements of a deputation as it relates to a decision that was taken in April.

“This is an astonishing response since the decision was not taken through the council’s normal democratic processes.”