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A time for change

GWH’s Director of Strategy Kevin McNamara reported to the council’s health scrutiny committee that Serco has taken over the hospital’s facilities management contract from failed mega-contractor Carillion (SA 30 March). He advises “For all intents and purposes we should see no change” which begs a question to be asked of a man charged with directing strategy; the question is simply “Why are there no changes?”

Surely a change of contractor is the right time for changes to be made, or does Mr McNamara wish your readers to believe that everything Carillion did was performed to the highest standards possible? Somehow, I doubt that could be true. I am delighted to read that Serco is charging less than Carillion did but note that the sum of £20m is spread between 15 Trusts across the UK; perhaps Mr McNamara can tell your readers what part of the reduction applies to the GWH and how much confidence can be had of Serco’s ability to not only maintain service levels but more importantly to improve on them.

I’m really hoping Mr McNamara isn’t an alumnus of the Coun Mary Martin school of management where the stock phrase is “There’s nothing much we can do about that, I’m afraid”.

Des Morgan, Caraway Drive, Swindon

It’s a national scandal

Can any of us trust a Theresa May led government over Brexit, when in the past week one of our best known and oldest engineering manufacturing companies GKN was allowed to be attacked by a hostile takeover company, Melrose, which has a reputation of splintering up and asset stripping?

Even Tory veteran grandee Sir Michael Heseltine was scathing in his attack on the government by saying that the government by allowing such a hostile takeover to happen was creating a clear threat to thousands of manufacturing jobs and also the supply lines to them, and that the situation was sadly unique to this country as it would be unthinkable and most definitely would not be allowed to happen in the European Union. It would appear the once trusted voice of truth and impartiality, namely the BBC, has in recent years become nothing other than an organ of the current government that is now primarily subject its dictat.

This is a government that is seeking the trust of the British people to negotiate new post Brexit trade deals, whilst at the same time would have us all believe that they will protect the rights and conditions of workers in this country. However even before the ink is dry upon the Melrose hostile takeover deal the government is at it yet again by handing a £3bn defence contract to Germany much to the understandable disgust of Welsh MP Wayne David who has stated that this will put hundreds of manufacturing jobs at risk in Wales. The government has handed the contract to build new armoured carrier vehicles for the army on a plate to German engineering firm Artec despite the country dearly needing to protect such jobs in the light of Brexit and surely these decisions are nothing short of a national scandal.

It is surely bad enough already to have foreign companies heavily being used in the running of our utility companies and also our railways, which has no doubt led to the rip off prices that we now are being charged for such services, and the only clear and logical way to put a stop to this ongoing injustice of foreign interests that work against us all is to renationalise them at the earliest opportunity post Brexit, by electing a government that will do it and thus put the country’s interest first.

G A Woodward, Nelson Street, Swindon

Tribute to children

Is there a brave young person you know who should be nominated for a WellChild Award? Now is the chance to show them how special they are.

I’m delighted to be hosting the WellChild Awards 2018, in association with GSK, when we will be paying a public tribute to some of the UK’s very special children, young people and caring professionals. And I would like to appeal to your readers to put forward as many worthy nominees as possible from your area.

Last year saw a fantastic number of nominations for the awards and we are looking to beat that this year giving as many people as possible the chance to be recognised.

We are looking for inspirational children and young people who have defied the odds in the face of serious illness and the selfless nurses, doctors, brothers, sisters and friends who help care for them. This is your opportunity to give them the recognition they deserve at a prestigious event regularly attended by WellChild Patron, Prince Harry.

I am proud to be an ambassador for WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children and I have attended and hosted the WellChild Awards many times along with Prince Harry and a host of celebrity guests. I have seen for myself the amazing boost that the Awards bring to many inspirational children and young people who live with serious illnesses. It is a magical experience for the winners who have an evening they will never forget.

Nominations for the 2018 WellChild Awards are open now so please get yours in before the closing date on Monday April 9th.

I am sure many of your readers know people who they feel really do deserve to be honoured for their bravery or caring qualities with a WellChild Award. So don’t let them miss out – get the details of how to nominate them now by looking at the charity’s website https://www.wellchild.org.uk/awards/ or by calling 01242 530007.

The winners will be invited along with their nominator to attend the WellChild Awards ceremony later in the year, where I will be among the celebrity guests and supporters to congratulate them personally.

Gaby Roslin, WellChild Ambassador c/o WellChild 16 Royal Crescent Cheltenham