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The majority of the public believe that climate change is a reality. But the most recent surveys show a decline in concern since 2005. Sarah Castell argues that new techniques may be needed to change behaviours and engage the public.
“I think if they want us to save energy to save the world then it should be installed free.”
“Eventually the Government has got to say – we think this is the best way forward. We as individuals can’t make that decision.”
A recent report from Sciencewise-ERC (What the public say about designing climate change and low carbon interventions) synthesises messages drawn from thirteen studies carried out from 2007-10. These studies canvassed views on climate change and on low carbon incentives and included surveys, focus groups and public dialogues, plus discourse analyses.
What is the problem?
The vast majority of the public believe that climate change is a reality, and are concerned about it. However, the most recent surveys suggest that people are taking the issue less seriously than they used to. Ipsos MORI reported in 2008 that 88% believed the climate is changing, falling to just under three-quarters (73%) in 2009 and dropping to 60% in 2010. Researchers from Cardiff University also noted decline in belief in climate change in their 2010 survey – 71% concerned, down from 82% concerned in 2005.
Why might this be? In qualitative research, the public seem unsure what causes climate change and what can be done to stop it. They suspect that the low carbon agenda might just be an excuse for expensive products or high taxes. And they are complacent about what they need to do personally. While they say they have changed their behaviour, few are saving energy consistently.
The authors of these studies speculate that the public have heard too many ‘doom and gloom’ messages about the risks and impacts of climate change, without hearing a positive ‘call to action’ alongside. Is this why they are losing interest?
Who should solve it?
The public want the Government to lead the way. Consumers are not keen to bear the financial burden of switching. They argue it benefits society as a whole, rather than themselves, so they shouldn’t have to pay. Before taking action, they want to hear what changes will be required from business and how Government is going to change its own behaviour too.
You talk to me about saving energy in my own house – drive up the A40 and see all these offices at five o’clock in the morning with all their lights on -you’ve got all these offices with their lights on and they’re talking about saving electricity.
But there is potential to get the public engaged – by designing low carbon solutions which meet consumer needs. The authors of these reports recommend segmenting the public, and targeting interventions carefully at segments. The reports identify some overarching needs likely to be relevant to many different groups:
Save money now and reduce upfront costs
People see new technologies as expensive, risky and complicated. They want upfront financial help.
Give the homeowner control of energy use
For example, energy meters tend to be liked, as they help people take some control over their energy use. The self-sufficiency of micro-generation, in principle, appeals. Both allow consumers to feel empowered in their dealings with energy companies.
Show new products working in practice.
Examples and demos are reassuring.
New technologies should fit with the aesthetics of the home, and meet the need for status
Like double glazing, the most successful insulation technology so far, new technologies will need to look impressive and add to the value of the house.
Positive, congratulatory, light hearted communications
Consumers do not want to hear ‘worthy’ messages of personal sacrifice. New products and communications should be marketed in a way which promotes intrigue, not guilt. “Dare I say, there’s still got to be a slight entertainment element for us to pay attention”.
What next?
Individual consumers see the barriers – upfront costs, and risks – more clearly than they see the benefits of low carbon lifestyles. They would like Government to bear the risk of change.
It may be that shifts towards purchasing low carbon home energy products are occurring already, as incentives such as the Feed-In Tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive are communicated. But the overriding impression from these studies is that the public are waiting – for well designed products and services, for inspiration and for a catalyst.
These might include local and national Government incentives; incentives from suppliers; clever and innovative design of aesthetically appealing products; and careful targeting of communication at the right segments of the population. The next step is to create these ideas and bring them to the public.
Read the full report, and others like it at , www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
0870 190 6324.
Crime in Greater Manchester has fallen by more than 11 per cent in the last year, resulting in almost 30,000 fewer victims. Figures released today, Thursday 20 January 2011, show there have also been significant reductions in burglary, vehicle crime, robbery and gun crime.
Elderly and disabled residents of the London Borough of Wandsworth travelled in fine style to do their Christmas shopping – aboard a smart new Mercedes-Benz minibus.
The Long-bodied Sprinter 313CDI is powered by a clean, ‘green’ 129hp Euro 5 engine and wears the colours of Wandsworth Community Transport, a registered charity that supports local groups and individuals with mobility issues.
The vehicle was supplied as a Long-bodied panel van uprated from the standard 3.5 to 3.85 tonnes gvw, by south London dealer SG Smith. It was converted by Stanford Coachworks, of Stanford-le-Hope, Essex.
The mobility specialist has fitted 10 individual seats in the passenger compartment, taking the total number of seats, including the driver’s, to 13. There is also space for a wheelchair – access for wheelchair users is via a Passenger Lift Services cassette lift, which is installed beneath the floor at the rear of the vehicle. Up to eight of the passenger seats can be quickly and easily removed, leaving additional room for four more wheelchairs.
Other features include non-slip flooring, handrails in high-visibility yellow which are connected to the fold-out step at the side of the minibus, and integral ‘all age’ seat belts, which negate the need for child or booster seats when transporting youngsters.
Wandsworth Community Transport’s fleet of 25 vehicles includes a dozen wheelchair-accessible minibuses, every one of which now wears a three-pointed star. Most are 17-seaters that can also accommodate up to five wheelchairs – these larger vehicles are based on Sprinter chassis downrated from 5.0 to 4.25 tonnes gvw, which means they can be driven by holders of a standard licence.
Wandsworth Community Transport provides mobility for around 350 groups – among them churches, schools, retirement and sheltered homes, and lunch clubs – as well as some 1,700 elderly and disabled individuals. Users pay a fare, but this is heavily subsidised by the local council and other contributors.
The charity lays on outings and day trip visits to the coast and other places of interest. But its day-to-day work entails collecting clients from their homes across the borough and taking them to local shopping centres, where they are met and, if necessary, accompanied by representatives of the Shopmobility scheme.
Managing Director Manuel Button leads a team of 35 staff, as well as scores of volunteers. -We provide a vital lifeline for people who might otherwise be housebound, he explained. -It allows them to get out, meet friends and enjoy themselves, as well as undertake routine tasks such as shopping which the rest of us take for granted.
Mr Button continued: -We probably buy three wheelchair-accessible minibuses every couple of years and have been gradually phasing out our older, non-Mercedes vehicles and replacing them with Sprinters – the introduction of our latest vehicle marks the completion of this process.
-We have been very happy with the quality and reliability of our Sprinters, while the drivers particularly like the smooth power delivery and the automatic gearbox that Mercedes-Benz offers as a standard factory option. Clients have also complimented us many times, on how comfortable the ride is.
Wandsworth Community Transport’s Sprinters are maintained in SG Smith’s Sydenham workshops. -Our relationship with the dealer goes back a number of years now, added Mr Button, -and they provide a first class service.
www.wandsworthcommunitytransport.org.uk
Kingspan Renewables, the new brand identity for both Kingspan Solar and Kingspan Hot Water Systems Ltd, will be exhibiting its one-stop-shop for market-leading renewable package solutions at Ecobuild 2011.
Visitors to the show will be able to see the latest new product launches from Kingspan, including its award-winning Varisol – the world’s first modular solar thermal vacuum tube collector; Albion Aerocyl – a dedicated copper hot water cylinder for heat pump and solar input and its latest addition, the Aeromax Plus Air Source Heat Pump.
Also on show will be Thermomax solar thermal vacuum tubes, Kingspan Solar flat plate panels (‘in-roof’ and ‘on-roof’) as well as Range Tribune HE Duplex stainless steel unvented cylinders, including pre-plumbed models for solar input that not only reduce on-site installation time but make the fitting process more straightforward.
Kingspan Renewables Packages Deliver ‘Everything Under the Sun!’
Complementing its wide portfolio of state-of-the-art technologies, Kingspan Renewables will be demonstrating its full package offerings that are custom-designed to suit each application and provide specifiers, installers and end users alike with the ultimate Renewables solution. Customers, both domestic and commercial, can benefit from Kingspan Renewables packages that are tailored to deliver top performance and ultimate results. They include the highest level of customer support from initial advice, through to customised design, installation by Kingspan accredited installers, final commissioning and technical support.
One-Stop Solar Shop:
The latest solar offering from Kingspan Renewables is Varisol – the world’s first modular vacuum tube solar thermal collector. The MCS accredited technology combines a unique design with high performance polymer materials to allow solar thermal vacuum tubes to simply ‘click-fit’ together to create solar thermal collectors of varying sizes. The technology is a modern and adaptable alternative to the rigid manifold system. It incorporates world-leading Kingspan Renewables Thermomax vacuum tubes and retains their top quality performance, whilst delivering total flexibility. This means collectors can be sized to the exact needs of the end user within the space available.
Thermomax vacuum tube collectors are specifically tailored for Northern European climates and deliver an unrivalled transfer of solar energy into heat, providing up to 70 per cent of hot water requirements throughout the year. The vacuum inside each tube provides perfect insulation by protecting the system from outside influences, such as cold, wet or windy weather, resulting in quality performance all-year-round. The vacuum tubes also allow energy from the sun to be collected efficiently and effectively, so that solar-heated water is always readily available.
Kingspan Renewables solar thermal flat plate panels will also be on show at Ecobuild and deliver a cost-effective solution both in domestic and commercial applications, providing excellent levels of efficiency and performance. They are robust, hard-wearing and flexible in installation (with both ‘in-roof’ and ‘on-roof’ options).
Aeromax Plus Air Source Heat Pumps:
The latest addition to the Kingspan Renewables portfolio is the Aeromax Plus Air Source Heat Pump. Specifically designed for use in UK housing applications in Northern European climates, these highly efficient heat pumps can supply up to 100 percent of Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water and can extract heat from temperatures as low as -20C. They have low running costs and can reduce energy bills by as much as 50 percent. The range is available in three outputs (6kW, 8kW and 12kW) to suit individual requirements, and operates to optimum performance all-year-round, providing water temperature up to 60C for both radiator and Domestic Hot Water applications. Aeromax Plus forms part of Kingspan’s Ultimate Air Source Heat Pump package, and is optimally partnered with Albion Aerocyl Heat Pump Only or Heat Pump & Solar Input cylinders.
Hot Water Storage Solutions
Albion Aerocyl Heat Pump Only or Heat Pump & Solar Input cylinders feature purpose-designed coils, which allow maximum heat transfer of renewable energy into stored water. Their fast flow rates are capable of delivering over 45 litres of mains pressure hot water per minute. Fast reheat means hot water is always available, and the high level of insulation minimises heat loss, making the cylinders economical to run. Albion Aerocyl cylinders also have the added benefit of an electric immersion heater for backup. Together, Albion Aerocyl cylinders and Aeromax Plus Air Source Heat Pumps provide the ultimate package for maximum system efficiency.
Kingspan Renewables will also be exhibiting its Range Tribune HE Duplex stainless steel unvented cylinders. They are the ultimate choice for mains pressure hot water, high flow rates, environmentally friendly insulation and low maintenance. Fed directly from the cold water mains, the cylinders deliver fast filling baths and powerful showers with minimal loss of performance when more than one tap is being used at the same time. They are also insulated with 50mm thick HCFC and CFC-free foam, resulting in low standing heat loss and making them economical to run as well as highly efficient. The Tribune HE family is manufactured using Duplex stainless steel to ensure superior endurance and corrosion resistance and is also backed by a fully transferable 25-year guarantee, assuring a long operational life.
For more information, please visit
Integrated Panelling System (IPS) technology from leading specialists Washroom Washroom presents itself as an ideal washroom solution to the health, leisure and education sectors.
IPS panelling offers an integrated plumbing system that can be used in a wide range of applications to ensure services are neatly concealed and safe from tampering, providing not only an attractive, clean washroom finish, but also a hygienic and convenient option which is equally easy to facilitate for maintenance.
Available in a number of options to suit individual budgets, materials include the highly resilient, waterproof Solid Grade Laminate (SGL), impact resistant High Pressure Laminate (HPL), self-supporting and durable Melamine Faced Chipboard (MFC) or manufacture from real veneer wood for a prestige finish.
Different sizing options are available, with panels tailor made to fit for an improved appearance, creating a neat finish in washroom areas. IPS panels can be manufactured full length from floor to ceiling, or low level, with a choice of concealed panel fixtures to allow for easy access. Panels can also be printed in a range of colour options to suit individual design specifications.
IPS comes in the choice of pre-plumed or non pre-plumbed, with pre-plumbed systems having services and sanitary ware readily built in for easy onsite installation. This offers significant advantages such as fewer trades onsite, reduced waste and restricted damage due to the consistency and assurance of factory manufacture.
Non pre-plumbed panels offer the same quality and concealment of services, without built in sanitary ware, leaving the option open to contractors.
IPS systems offer a versatile and practical solution for washroom, medical and changing areas. The IPS system proves ideal for health care environments such as hospitals and clinics where high standards of hygiene are paramount, but are equally effective in leisure of education environments where services can be attractively hidden for a sleek finish and concealed from the possibility of tamper or damage.
For more information on any of Washroom Washroom’s products or solutions, visit
www.washroom.co.uk
One of the key outcomes from the ‘Use of Experts’ workstream report was for the role of experts to be more carefully considered in the planning and delivery of public dialogues.
The-Use-of-Experts-in-Public-DialogueFull-report.pdf
This article looks at one aspect of that report – to advocate bringing in a greater number and diversity of experts in public dialogue and why that is becoming even more pertinent.
In the public dialogues Sciencewise-ERC has funded and advised on, a sample of members of the public is asked to deliberate on an issue, exploring their hopes, fears and aspirations so that policy can be better informed by those views.
Therefore, we give people quite a challenge – from knowing little, if anything, on a subject to, over the course of 2 or 3 days, being immersed in subjects such as synthetic biology, geoengineering, stem cells and animals containing human material, and then discussing the challenges, issues, benefits and pitfalls. Participants are taken through a range of information and often in a spread of different formats – information sheets, videos, presentations and their own research – to bring them up to speed with the core aspects and narratives on the subject. Participants also hear the views of different ‘experts’ as another way of enabling them to see through and round the different aspects of an issue.
And therein is the challenge that requires explicit consideration – who are the ‘experts’ and how do we faithfully and credibly cover the diversity of perspectives that may exist on an issue?
Why a diversity of experts?
I suggest there are two key drivers for this diversity. Firstly, to enable participants to deliberate as effectively as they can on the issue at hand and, secondly, (and often not given enough emphasis) to provide an opportunity for the experts to be participants themselves in those processes as a way of directly hearing the issues from the public and thus informing their own thinking and research trajectories.
For public participants – seeing the whole
If we are expecting people to make choices or express views on a subject, then we should provide perspectives that enable participants to get as holistic a view as possible on the issue to help the process of deliberation.
Without faithfully providing as full a picture as possible of the issues, the process becomes in danger of being challenged for bias.
Debates about science should involve different opinions/viewpoints and a plurality of expertise and recognition of other types of knowledge that take into account minority opinions
Obviously, each dialogue is specifically planned and factors such as purpose of the dialogue, and the issue being discussed are key to defining who the experts may be. Inevitably, time factors will also play a part somewhere along the line restricting how much can be achieved – which is why it is so important to think carefully about who is chosen to provide ‘expert input’.
Evaluations of dialogues show that a variety of viewpoints is always valued by participants – and, indeed, if the variety of input is not there, then participants often quickly pick up on its omission.
“It was also particularly valuable to have a variety of viewpoints among the speakers. This helped ensure that participants did not feel manipulated towards a particular conclusion, and also helped them feel there was no ‘right’ answer which, in turn, made them feel more comfortable about expressing their own views.” (HFEA Hybrid & Chimera Embryos dialogue)
As far as possible, it is really valuable to give participants the opportunity to say which experts and/or viewpoints they would want to hear.
For experts – reflecting public hopes, fears and aspirations
There is another reason for wanting to include a diversity of experts in public dialogue – to provide greater opportunity for the experts themselves. Public dialogue is, importantly (or should be), about experts being able to discuss the issues with public participants – to hear first hand the issues and concerns. Giving experts an opportunity to hear what the public thinks and feels about an issue is important, and crucial in the case of research, if we are to truly embed societal thinking into future research trajectories.
“I gained a lot from listening to the views of a very diverse range of members of the public who, by and large, were very supportive of us, but had a few areas where they weren’t certain. I think it has allowed me to sort of set my barometer at a more appropriate point”. (Professor Chris Mason, University College London, an expert speaker and member of the Oversight Group in the Stem Cell Dialogue)
Not only does diversity enable richer public dialogues, it also enables greater reflection of public thinking into future science and technological developments.
Expert – what expert?
So, who exactly is an expert? This, of course, will vary from subject to subject and process to process. In Sciencewise dialogues, expert input has broadly fallen into the following categories:
Experts (scientific/technical/legal) provide technical and scientific-based inputs from the whole range of science – from social science and philosophy through to physical and life sciences
Stakeholders largely provide views and evidence based on a particular standpoint and often represent lobbying or special interest groups, e.g. the Renewable Energy Association, Greenpeace
Experiential publics are members of the public who have a specific knowledge, can contribute by sharing their personal insights and stories into an issue, e.g. parents of children with a chronic medical condition, who have gained considerable knowledge of that particular condition over time, but who also have direct experience as users of a medical service
Broadening the notion of who is an expert.
The notion of who might be perceived as an expert is under constant debate.
when it comes to the future of an emerging technology, no one (or everyone) is an expert.
NatureNews: World View: Not by experts alone – David Sarewitz
www.nature.com/news/2010/100804/full/466688a.html
As the Big Society starts to play out, it is possible that, with an emphasis away from centralised ‘power’ to more local delivery, there will come a greater recognition of the role and experiences of those individuals and organisations delivering solutions. The extension of this means a widening of whom we might perceive as experts in the future particularly to those with increasing direct and practical, rather than academic, experience.
Couple this with the continued rise of the professional amateur, resourced and profiled by ever wider internet powered information sharing, and it is likely that the choice of which ‘experts’ and perspectives are pertinent, challenging and appropriate in public dialogue is sure to broaden.
So, while advocating a much stronger presence and number of scientists and academic experts to participate in public dialogue, it is also necessary to consider involving a much wider set of perspectives on an issue to equip public participants with the range of viewpoints on the subject at hand.
In conclusion, the tips to bear in mind for every dialogue is to think carefully about which, and in what way, experts are involved in public dialogue:
Are the range of perspectives faithfully covered to give participants a holistic view of the issues?
Who is best suited to give those perspectives – academics, NGOs, those with experiences or stories to share – do we need to look beyond the ‘usual suspects’?
How can experts themselves be participants in the process and become more able to fully understand the thoughts of public participants so that, in turn, this can help develop thinking, research and developments that are fit for purpose and in line with a society that ultimately gives the ‘licence to operate’ for many new technologies.
Suzannah Lansdell
Dialogue and Engagement Specialist
Sciencewise-ERC
Read the full report and more at: www.sciencewise-erc.org.uk
A Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) project to tackle invasive non-native plant species (INNS) in the Dumfries and Galloway area, is using state-of-the-art treatment equipment from Stem Injection Systems (Europe).
The project officers using the equipment are working for Nith District Salmon Fishery Board (DSFB) and Annan DSFB on a Japanese Knotweed control programme on the River Nith and River Annan catchment areas. These are two of several organisations involved in the five year project which has been part funded through SEPA’s Restoration Fund.
The INNS project will focus on eliminating Japanese Knotweed as well as Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed, all of which are growing in increasing numbers along the river corridors and having a serious impact on the biodiversity of the riparian environment and consequently on the aquatic environment.
SEPA South West operations manager Robert Kerr said: -The issue of invasive species is a national one, threatening biodiversity across the UK. Their ability to colonise many areas has resulted in damage to our environment, the economy, our health and the way we live.”
Jim Henderson is Director of Nith DSFB which is responsible for preserving, protecting and enhancing stocks of migratory salmonids within the Nith catchment. -This increasing problem with invasive plants has to be tackled in a concerted way, starting at the top of the river corridor and extending catchment-wide to try and eliminate the spread of seeds,” he said.
-Having examined various treatment techniques, it’s my belief that spraying only suppresses plant growth until the following growing season, whereas the stem injection system appears to deliver a complete kill.”
This project is part of SEPA’s Dumfries and Galloway Catchment Management Initiative and is managed by a steering group bringing together key local organisations to help tackle the problem.
The equipment, which injects a given dose of glyphosate herbicide directly into the plant stem, is increasingly recognised as achieving maximum control and specific to the plant species with no impact on the surrounding vegetation and wildlife, critical in this riverside application.
Jim Henderson concluded: -Although we’re learning all the time about how best to control invasive non-native species, this SEPA project feels as if we’re at the forefront of some very pioneering environmental work. I believe that this type of stem injection treatment will be seen as the blueprint for successful river basin weed management for years to come.”
Chorley Council is using an award winning specially developed web application to access up to date and accurate information about commercial premises. This information is then used to monitor town centre vacancies and proactively target potential tenants.
Having completed a project to match data from the Valuation Office Agency with the National Land and Property Gazetteer (NLPG) Chorley realised that commercial premises data held in the gazetteer and the Council’s Non Domestic Rates database could be utilised by other teams within the Council. The Town Centre Management team can now access commercial property details such as the business name of the property, type of property and property state helping to reduce the amount of time properties are standing vacant.
-As the current economic climate continues to bite, one of the most visible impacts is the changing face of our high streets and town centres,” commented Paul Sudworth, Information Manager, Chorley Borough Council. -By giving the Town Centre Management team access to up to date and accurate property specific information they can monitor the situation and better match interested tenants with suitable properties.”
Our survey say’s that the region feels like a safer place, according to the results of police research.
South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Police Authority’s annual crime and community safety survey ‘Your Voice Counts’ found that fear of crime had reduced in the fourth year of the survey across all the crime types listed when compared with year three.
The percentage of people that were ‘very and fairly worried’ about becoming a victim of crime fell five per cent to 55 per cent in year four, concerns over car crime also decreased, while a fear of being physically attacked dropped from 53 per cent to 47 per cent.
The figure deeming the overall level of crime a ‘big or fairly big problem’ has also reduced – from 36 per cent in year 3 to 32 per cent in year four.
‘Your Voice Counts’ was sent to more than 93,000 households in the region to gather vital information and monitor public perception on neighbourhood policing. It contained questions on issues such as anti-social behaviour (ASB) and criminal justice, as well as asking respondents to rate the areas they would like to see police and partner agencies prioritise.
ASB levels appear to have remained static with the figure for experiencing or witnessing ASB remaining at 32 per cent since year 2.
However, the profile of South Yorkshire’s 23 Safer Neighbourhood Areas (SNAs), which are dedicated to tackling crime and ASB, is also on the rise, with a boost in both the number of people aware of the initiative (39 per cent) and their knowledge of how to get in touch with the Safer Neighbourhood Teams (54 per cent).
Charles Perryman, chair of South Yorkshire Police Authority said: -The ‘Your Voice Counts’ survey has been a very important indicator to us of the public’s view over the last four years and has helped us to shape policy and channel resources and focus where they are most needed.
-In light of the coalition government’s public spending cuts, and the resulting £40m shortfall the force faces in its annual budget over the next four years, it is more important than ever the Police and its Authority are able to gauge what the region feels about the current service and what it wants to see in the future.
South Yorkshire Police Authority recently announced it is to hold a series of focus groups to ensure the public’s voice is taken into account on determining the impact of spending cuts on the region’s police force. Anyone wishing to get involved should email Tracy Webster (twebster@syjs.gov.uk) for dates and venues.
Last year the Authority also launched an online Budget Simulator facility, which enables visitors to suggest how they would prioritise and adjust spending on key areas such as neighbourhood policing and investigating crime. This can be completed at www.budgetsimulator.com/sypa
To follow South Yorkshire Police Authority on Twitter go to @sypoliceauth.
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) has selected Zircadian’s e-Roster to manage junior doctor rosters across the Trust.
LPT is already an established user of Zircadian’s e-Rota and e-Monitor web-based solutions for creating junior doctor rotas, ensuring compliance and for monitoring doctor hours. The medical staffing team uses e-Roster to create and plan rosters that meet the complex requirements of junior doctor working patterns and avoiding costly penalties.
Angela Salmen, Senior Medical Staffing Manager at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust says; -We have been using Zircadian’s e-Rota for some time now and have found it invaluable for managing our rotas to comply with legislation. We save a lot of time when we are planning rotas and the tool gives us the flexibility to try different scenarios and look at the consequences of ward or service changes.
-The e-Roster solution to manage rosters for our junior doctors, will eventually replace our paper based systems that are often time consuming and cumbersome to maintain. E-Roster will help us to ensure continuous compliance, manage swaps and record study or annual leave. We will always have an accurate record of the on call duties for junior doctors.
The e-Roster system provides warning of potential New Deal and EWTD breaches, ensuring compliance. It also flags gaps in service, where locum cover might be required, and junior doctors can log into the secure portal and see which duties they can apply to do as a locum shift.
Masood Ahmed, Director at Zircadian says; -Trusts in the health services have a very specific challenge – delivering on their priorities to deliver the best possible patient care, and providing training while managing resources efficiently. With complex legislation for doctors’ hours, shift patterns, annual leave and sickness, paper based methods just do not provide the flexibility or accuracy to be sufficient management tools. Zircadian provides Trusts with proven solutions for rota management, e-rostering, e-monitoring, and locum management to ensure that on the ground planning achieves both compliance and effective management of resource to help meet the Trust’s strategic service goals.
Media law consultant and trainer Cleland Thom has today called for a shake-up of the Press Complaints Commission as part of a change in the UK’s archaic libel laws.
www.ctjt-blog.biz/2011/01/here-is-future-of-libel-law-privacy-and.html
BNP leader Nick Griffin tells GPSJ they are hated by the politicians and people should vote for them as a protest against the political elite. Stuart Littleford speaks with Mr Griffin in Oldham as part of the coverage of the By-election.
Listen to the interview below.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage tells GPSJ what the have to offer voters in the Oldham East & Saddleworth By-election. He tells Stuart Littleford that a good manufacturing base is key to economic stability.
Listen to the interview below.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg tells GPSJ that the government is taking cybercrime seriously in 2011. He was speaking to Stuart Littleford on a visit to Oldham in support of Elwyn Watkins for the upcoming by-election.
Full interview below.
Health secretary Andrew Lansley tells GPSJ that he is happy with the way the swine flu crisis is being handled and with the advice he has been given for the under 5’s.
He also said patients will benefit from GP’s controlling budgets The idea is based on the notion that GPs have a better understanding of patient need than the managers who currently make these kinds of decisions with funding.
He was speaking to editor, Stuart Littleford, at LTE scientific, Saddleworth on the by-election election campaign trail with the conservative candidate Kashif Ali.
Full audio interview below.
The following statement is issued on behalf of Assistant Chief Constable Pat Geenty
On 13th July 2010 at Oxford Magistrates Court Sergeant Mark Andrews was found guilty of causing Actual Bodily Harm to Pamela Somerville whilst she had been a prisoner in police cells at Melksham Police station on 4th July 2008.
Following an appeal his conviction was quashed by Lord Justice Bean at Oxford Crown Court on 18th November, 2010.
At the appeal Lord Justice Beane concluded that the injury to Pamela Somerville was not intentional and was not as a result of criminal action by Sergeant Andrews. Whilst respecting that decision our concern was such that it was felt appropriate to independently examine whether any Police conduct breaches had occurred hence the conduct hearing that has now concluded.
The conduct hearing made up of senior officers from outside of Wiltshire have carefully listened to witnesses and considered all relevant evidence in this case. It has reached a decision that Sergeant Andrews should be dismissed from the force and this will take place with immediate effect.
We have always accepted that Pamela Somerville was injured whilst in our care and I want to apologise again to her for the way she was treated whilst in our care.
We acknowledge that there has been substantial media coverage and public interest in this case and that the images on the custody CCTV will have had an impact on the force and those who work within it.
The criminal appeal hearing concluded that Pamela Somerville had been lawfully arrested, was intoxicated, very uncooperative, verbally abusive, and disruptive to the processes which the law required the Police to carry out nevertheless this conduct hearing has concluded that Sergeant Andrews actions whilst not criminal fell well below the standards expected.
I hope that this decision will be of comfort to Pamela Somerville who was injured whilst in our care and I want to emphasise that she had not committed any crime. The public can be reassured that their safety remains our top priority and we will learn any lessons that need to be learnt to reduce the chance of any such future incident.
The public can also be reassured by the fact that this incident was first reported by another Police Officer. She acted in accordance with the highest traditions of what the public expect of a police officer in bringing her concerns to notice and our view of and support for her actions are not changed.
Police Officers and Police Staff have a duty to report concerns to supervisors and will always be supported in doing so for the benefit of us all.
There can be no greater responsibility than the care of people in our custody regardless of the reason for that custody and considerable effort and importance is placed on ensuring that processes, systems, training, and staff attitude is directed towards facing up to that responsibility
The Police have the power to arrest people in charge of a motor vehicle who they have reason to believe are suffering from the effects of alcohol and who then fail or refuse to provide a specimen of breath for a breath test. Both trial Judges accepted that Pamela Somerville was lawfully arrested and taken to the custody centre and that it was justified to return her to her cell.
Lord Justice Bean concluded in his summing up following the appeal that it was evident that Pamela Somerville was intoxicated, very uncooperative, verbally abusive and disruptive to the processes which the law required staff to carry out. None of this justified the way in which she was treated.
Pamela Somerville was not prosecuted for any offence and the original charge of failing to provide a breath test was withdrawn by the Crown Prosecution Service
No matter how good our systems, processes and training, it is impossible to give a 100% assurance that guidelines will not on occasions be broken. Whilst that is unpalatable it is a reality of the complexity of Policing.
This incident occurred well over two years ago and in that time in excess of 30,000 people have been dealt with in custody centres in Wiltshire. During that period there were no other serious assaults of this nature and although there were a small number of complaints of assault (less than 20), none were substantiated following thorough investigation.
Wiltshire police and its managers will not shirk from our responsibility to continue to reduce the chance of a re-occurrence of such incidents.
As part of a wider national inspection programme the force has undergone four independent inspections, two by the National Police Improvement Agency, one in respect of mentally disordered offenders and one by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and the Prisons Inspectorate. The latter inspection involved a total of 13 Inspectors arriving unannounced and spending four days with the Force. They carried out a thorough inspection in respect of ‘Dignity and Respect’ and produced a favourable report highlighting national best practice and concluding that interaction with detainees was ‘Respectful’.
Independent visitors are able to enter any part of any custody centre unannounced. They regularly do so and have unrestricted access. No issues have been raised concerning the treatment of detained people. Wiltshire Police has CCTV throughout its custody centres and this is being upgraded now to comply with new national standards.
We are not complacent and we welcome the fact that the Wiltshire Police Authority has commenced its own independent review of our custody practices. We will not shirk from our responsibility to continue to ensure that we provide a professional service to the public.
Debbie Abrahams the Labour candidate for the Oldham East and Saddleworth By-election visited a sports centre in Oldham .
Kaly’s Sports Centre has ‘state of the ar’t cricket practice facilities and huge childrens paly area, she met locals and saw how the centre is helping the lcoal community.
The centre is owned and run by councillor, Shadab Qumer, who wanted to put something back into his local area and is proud of the way the facilities are helping the youngsters. Debbie met and spoke to members of the centre and was given a few lessons in cricket batting.
Debbie said recently:
It’s an honour and a privilege to have been selected as Labour’s candidate. Now I’m looking forward to getting out and meeting as many residents as possible in the next few weeks to listen to their concerns.
It’s important that the real issues and concerns of people in the borough are not lost during this by-election campaign. People feel let down by the LibDem-Tory broken promises on police cuts, tuition fees and VAT. It doesn’t have to be this way, there is an alternative.
This is an opportunity for people to send a message to the Government. Oldham East and Saddleworth needs a Labour MP who will stand up and fight for them. I’m determined to keep my promises and deliver the best possible deal for people in this borough.
Oldham East and Saddleworth CLP chairwoman Jill Reid said:
“This selection process has attracted a great deal of interest and I would like to thank all the candidates for the way they’ve conducted themselves.
The members have had the final say and in Debbie Abrahams we have chosen a candidate who knows the borough well and will stand up and fight for local people.
With the by-election approaching I know that Labour now has the best candidate to represent Oldham East and Saddleworth in Westminster. Only Labour will stand up for the people in the borough.
Drastic cuts announced in October’s spending review, whilst achievable, could easily result in chaos to services if not managed appropriately. As the scale of the required savings in local government finally becomes clear, the reality is dawning that many authorities simply do not have the band-width or skills to deliver the budget reductions in any way other than through service cuts. Much of the opposition to the austerity package from both the public and unions is being driven by this fear.
In fact, our research and experience over many years shows that most councils could achieve the required savings through enhanced productivity, with service cuts being an absolute last resort. However, it is a fact that historically the sector has been poor at delivering such improvements and departments will never have been through anything like this before. Indeed, few will have the skills to deal with the kind of dramatic restructuring and behaviour change needed to drive necessary productivity increases in the order of 20-30%. Yet, if this were to be achieved it would satisfy the coalition’s requirements whilst also preventing frontline services from ending up as the fall-guy.
There is a real risk that officers will attempt to get there by taking a ‘top down’ approach where broad-brush mathematic percentage cuts are imposed on middle managers without any attempt to restructure, remove inefficiencies and take difficult decisions regarding performance management and accountability. In short, without fundamentally changing the way in which the departments operate. However, such fundamental change is precisely the approach which provides the solution to the problem.
Our work includes detailed shadowing and minute-by-minute recording of the activity of managers and other staff in the private and public sectors. We found that while junior management and staff in the private sector are on average productive for 44 per cent of the time, staff in the public sector were productive for only one third of their working day. To put this another way, approximately two-thirds of the working day of junior staff in the public sector was ‘lost’.
In simple terms, if utilisation rates in the public sector matched those of the private sector the same work could be done with a staff reduction of nearly one-third. Clearly there are differences between the two sectors and a direct comparison is overly simplistic. However, our analysis clearly identified the categories of lost time and found that typically one-half to two thirds of the lost time is in fact recoverable. This sort of dramatic increase in utilisation would help significantly in delivering the savings without cutting activity levels or service provision.
Of course, high levels of ‘lost’ time in the public sector do not indicate that staff are either lazy or incompetent. Our analysis shows that those people who come to work determined to do a good job, work hard and do their best often find a range of hindrances stacked against them.
So how can the public sector bring about a radical improvement in productivity? Our analysis together with over 24 years experience of implementing productivity improvement programmes, points quite clearly to the need for a significant cultural change, with a much more active management style, combined with better management control systems and more individual accountability for performance.
Yet, often in public sector departments, the systems are not in place to analyse staff utilisation levels in any detail nor to identify variances to plan early and prompt managerial correction. This means that amongst management there is often the view that their people are working at full capacity. This feeds the belief that greater efficiency can only be achieved through a dramatic external intervention, such as an expensive new IT system, or outsourcing. The evidence of our work shows quite clearly that this is not the case.
During Knox D’Arcy’s work for the public sector, we have also found that there is a huge disparity between the amount of time managers think they spend actively managing and the reality, indicating that getting managers to realise they also have to change is part of the challenge.
Many managers in the public sector are just not good enough at setting clear expectations, identifying and confronting off-schedule performance and other basic management activities. Indeed, often the culture of the public sector runs against this approach. Chief Executives must also recognise that simple exhortation will not rectify these weaknesses and that management needs help to get through this challenge.
Paul Weekes is Principal Consultant at Knox D’Arcy (www.knoxdarcy.com), a management consultancy.
Nick Clegg visited Oldham Training Centre along with Elwyn Watkins in the run up to the Oldham East and Saddleworth By-election.
Mr Clegg met with young trainees at the OTC and was given a guided tour around the building by management, he spoke with young people at the centre and and showed a genuine interest in what was being achieved there.
The centre is used by over 200 companies and has a wide range of courses available from electronics to mechanical engineering, it also offers training in health and safety and first aid at work.
Speaking to GPSJ editor Stuart Littleford, Mr Clegg said he thought there was hope for young people even in the current economic climate and the public sector under the coalition government will still employ more people than labour ever did.
He also said that labour had no real answers whatsoever.
He was accompanied by Elwyn Watkins the Liberal Democrat candidate for the upcoming By-election who’s recent legal battle saw Phil Woolas removed from office for lying in the election campaign.
Nick Clegg says he is disappointed that Mr Woolas has still not apologised.
Listen to the full interview below.
Siemens IT Solutions and Services has appointed a Head of Government Affairs to champion and develop relationships with central and local Government partners and trade associations. Steven Barker will take this ambassadorial role and lead engagements with public sector working groups concerned with standards in procurement, emergent and changing ICT strategies, plus the identification of innovative products, services and solutions.
Steven Barker has been with Siemens IT Solutions and Services working on environmental sustainability portfolio development and in a strategic planning role since 2008. Before this he was at the Home Office within the IT Shared Services group. He previously held roles at IND (now UKBA) and also with HMSO. Steve has also worked in the private sector in procurement and product management roles.
Clark MacFarlane, Managing Director at Siemens IT Solutions and Services UK, said, “Siemens is a long-standing partner to the UK public sector and the appointment of Steven Barker to Head of Government Affairs will ensure continued proactive discussion and delivery of new ideas and innovations to support central and local Government. ICT innovations and Business Process Outsourcing offer the potential to improve service delivery, save costs and support the drive for more open engagement with citizens.â€
The announcement of the Head of Government Affairs role follows the recent signing of Siemens IT Solutions and Services’ Memorandum of Understanding with the Cabinet Office to deliver significant savings to HM Government as part of the Efficiency Reform Group’s (ERG) deficit reduction programme.
Siemens IT Solutions and Services is a long-term provider of IT and business process outsourcing services to the public sector. Clients include National Savings and Investments (NS&I), Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA), the UK Border Agency (UKBA), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Welsh Assembly Government.
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