The IW, despite Eco Island, has not signed up for 10:10.
THE VIEW FROM HERE
EXTENSIVE national press coverage was given to Stoke-on-Trent when it recently became the first city to sign up to the 10:10 campaign, which pledges to cut carbon emissions by ten per cent during 2010.
"It’s an employment blackspot, its industrial might a thing of the past," wrote Guardian reporter Jon Henley. "So who’d have thought Stoke-on-Trent would be the first city to sign up to the 10:10 environmental campaign?"
Who, indeed? You might have thought it far more likely to be somewhere fantastically ecologically minded, a place keen to parade its green credentials, somewhere like, ooh, let’s see now — ah yes, somewhere like the IW.
Unfortunately, the Island was never in the running to become the first entire area to sign up to 10:10. Had it done so, it would have garnered national acclaim and publicity, as well as committing itself to a realistic goal for cutting carbon emissions.
Stoke is feeling mighty pleased with itself, as well it might. The collective initiative to endorse 10:10 was spearheaded by Joan Walley, MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, who described a special event held at one of the city’s schools as "a huge success, with businesses, organisations and people from across the city agreeing to sign up."
Stoke’s many 10:10 signatories include its three MPs, Port Vale Football Club, Staffordshire University and Staffordshire Police. Oh, and Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The initiative wouldn’t have been much cop without them on board.
Regrettably, the Island ("Eco Island", cue hollow laughter) has not only missed the boat in being the first community to sign up to 10:10, but it won’t even be able to climb on board. Our ruling Conservatives slapped down a motion proposing the council should officially support the campaign, saying they have a better, grander initiative.
But 10:10 is all about being realistic and setting achievable targets. Campaign director Eugenie Harvie said of Stoke’s support: "This is what 10:10 is all about — people and groups…coming together to pack a punch far greater than they could have on their own."
Compare the IW Tories’ negative reaction to that of Cllr John Daniels, Stoke’s cabinet member for the environment. "Signing up to the 10:10 initiative means the council is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and making Stoke-on-Trent a greener, more environmentally friendly place. Each person in Stoke-on-Trent has a crucial role to play, but we will only reach our target by working together as a city." Or, as Joan Walley puts it, "singing from the same hymn sheet".
The IW Tories reckon they have a swankier hymn sheet than everybody else. Unfortunately, those who try to reach unachievable high notes usually end up extremely flat.
Go back to basics for dementia caring
THE clever people who have ordered all nurses to take university degrees may have to refine their decision after a report by the Alzheimer’s Society on dementia patients in hospital.
One half of hospital patients are over 65, and one half of those suffer from some sort of dementia. That’s a quarter of hospital beds occupied by people whose needs, according to the report, are not being met. Typically, they become more confused, distressed, dehydrated and malnourished in hospital. "Their dementia is becoming worse and they are taking far longer to recover from whatever they went into hospital for," says Andrew Chidgey, of the Alzheimer’s Society.
The director of the Patients’ Association describes the report’s findings as scandalous.
"Not enough help with eating. Not enough help with drinking. Not enough help with personal hygiene. Not enough help with continence…elderly patients are being neglected in hospitals across the NHS."
I expect this situation will be swiftly addressed by the clever people, doubtless by insisting that nurses additionally have a masters degree and a PhD in order to provide this basic, loving, commonsense care. That should sort it all out.