Letter to chair of integrated joint board regarding Bethesda

Dear Kenny John,

I write to you with huge concerns about the financial state of the Bethesda Hospice.

As chair of the integrated Joint Board, you and your board members have responsibility for the levels of funding for Bethesda and according to correspondence I have received from the Hospice, you are failing that much valued service to the community.

I believe that health boards were obliged to pay 50% of agreed running costs of hospices and according to Bethesda this has not happened since 2007. We all know that costs rise over time with inflation, salaries also need to increase, so the fact that the funding has remained static for eleven years is shocking.

I understand that the provision of palliative and end of life car has now been delegated to the IJB and a recent Service Level Agreement was welcomed. However, a 3% per annum proposal for the next three years is absolutely appalling given the shortfall over the years. How is the hospice able to function with such a derisory offer. The staff and management of Bethesda should be highly commended for the way they run this facility and also the hard work of funders not to mention the kindness of the community who have donated over the years to its running costs.

I urge you to make good on the funding pledge by covering 50% of the costs and for you to claim back lost monies from the Health Board who failed in their duty by underfunding this hugely important facility . .

I look forward to your response,

Best wishes,

Gordon 

(Cllr Gordon Murray, leader of Western Isles Council SNP Group)

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Council Mantra raises more questions than answers

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Community benefit from windfarms should be business of Comhairle

SNP Group Leader at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Cllr Gordon Murray, has hit out at comments made by Council Leader Roddie Mackay that analysis of community benefit from windfarms is not a matter for the council.

In response to a question by SNP Cllr Calum MacMillan at a recent Comhairle meeting, Cllr Roddie Mackay is reported to have said that it is up to communities themselves and not the Comhairle to determine whether independent analysis of any offer is required.

Cllr Murray said the response was hugely disappointing and showed a level of naivety of the situation currently facing communities.

He said: “To set this issue in a Planning context alone as he has tried to do, underplays the impact that these developments will have on the environmental, social and economic fabric of our Islands.

“How will the Comhairle and its Partners facilitate social inclusion - especially for those people and communities that are going to be left behind?

“Is Mr Mackay happy that many Islanders will continue to experience fuel poverty and no community benefit from these developments?

“Why does he fail to recognise that the failure to come up with a Strategy for such developments when these proposals first came to light, is indeed something that Islanders should expect from its Leadership?

“Community Councils and Trusts are made up of hard-working volunteers who give up their free time working for their localities. They usually have little or no resources to undertake independent analyses.  They certainty shouldn’t have to come up with an Islands Strategy.  If the Stornoway Trust or crofters are undertaking such an exercise for the land that they manage on behalf of residents, then this is not being shared with communities. 

“The Comhairle is meant to be exercising democratic and community leadership. It is the key strategic body for these Islands and employs researchers, economic advisors, lawyers and other specialists.  To say that the Developers should or could fund an ‘independent’ assessment on behalf of communities that sets out the economic and social benefits for all, shows a level of naivety that is quite staggering.

“It is sad to see the Leader and his Chairs’ Group dancing to the multinational tune.  Who has what here and who wants what? 

“Shouldn’t the Comhairle, working with the Trust, Crofters and not forgetting the communities who will have to live with these turbines on their doorsteps, be in the driving seat?

“It is sad to see the Leader and his Chairs just shrugging their shoulders.”