Going The Extra Mile For Malawi Trip
Mark Griffin MSP has welcomed a team of charity cyclists from Kilsyth at the Scottish Parliament.
Frank Parkinson and several friends made the cycle from the Parliament back home to Kilsyth to raise funds for Frank’s son Daniel, a 6th Year pupil at St Maurice’s High School, and other students, who are heading out to Malawi in June. The money raised is also contributing to resources for children in African country.
Mark, who has assisted Daniel in his fundraising effort over the last several months, met the cyclists at the Parliament on Bank Holiday Monday.
Mark said:
"I have been delighted to support Daniel in his fundraising efforts ahead of his visit to Malawi in June, and was pleased to welcome the cyclists at the Parliament, the start line for their charity cycle to Kilsyth.
"It is incredibly heartening to see young people like Daniel, and the other students involved, proactively volunteering to help those that are so much more worse off in the world. Furthermore, the level of support shown to those making the trip has been exceptional, not just from family and friends, but from the people of Kilsyth and the surrounding area, as well as local and national businesses.
"I am sure the visit to Malawi visit will be productive, eye-opening and truly rewarding and I wish all involved all the very best."
Government Must Not Delay on Health Centre
Mark Griffin MSP has called on the Scottish Government to move quickly to get the new Health Centre in Kilsyth up and running. Planning permission has been granted by North Lanarkshire Council’s Planning Committee, but the Health Centre will likely not be completed until the summer of 2015.
Mr Griffin has highlighted his concerns surrounding Kilsyth’s existing health centre for over three years to NHS Lanarkshire, the Health Secretary Alex Neil, and his predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon.
Mark said:
"The new health centre in Kilsyth is badly needed, and NHS Lanarkshire has laid out plans which will make the centre a state-of-the-art facility.
"It is of vital importance that the Scottish Government ensures the funding is available to get the project moving as quickly as possible as I have had hundreds of complaints about the existing centre, which, frankly, which does not meet the needs of local people.
"North Lanarkshire Council have been efficient in granting planning permission for the new centre. It is now up to the Scottish Government and the Health Board to get moving on the project as soon as possible."
Investment in Kilsyth Welcomed
Mark Griffin MSP joined Gregg McClymont MP and Kilsyth Councillors Heather McVey and Depute Provost Jean Jones in welcoming North Lanarkshire Council's Planning Committee’s decision to grant NHS Lanarkshire’s application for a brand new, state of the art, Health Centre in Kilsyth.
The new 2,157 square metre community health centre will house a wide range of services including a GP practice, psychiatry service, podiatry service, physiotherapy facilities, speech and language therapy and an NHS dental practice.
Mark Griffin MSP said:
“I am delighted that the Council’s Planning Department have approved this application.
“There have been a number of complaints from patients about problems in the current practice, including lengthy waits for appointments and telephone appointments, which I have been raising with NHS Lanarkshire and the Heath Secretary for a number of years.
“I am glad that NHS Lanarkshire has finally moved forward with the application and that the council have granted it so speedily. I hope that works will commence soon so that local people get the benefit before too long.”
Gregg said:
“I'm pleased the Council have backed NHS Lanarkshire’s plans to provide Kilsyth with a much needed, state of the art health centre.
“If the plans proceed as outlined by NHS Lanarkshire, by 2015 there will be a much needed new community facility in the area. I’m sure the people of Kilsyth would share my delight that this is now one step closer to becoming a reality.”
Kilsyth Councillor, Depute Provost Jean Jones added:
"I am delighted that planning permission has been approved for this much needed new facility in Kilsyth. At present all the services the Health Centre would like to deliver cannot be facilitated in the present accommodation which means people have to travel and once this is built that will be a thing of the past.　
"I look forward to working with the Health Board during the next phase of the work and am happy to listen to issues that residents want to raise about the health service locally."
Councillor Heather McVey added:
"I am delighted that Kilsyth and villages will have the state of the art health centre it deserves. The centre will be home to a variety of health and associated services and clinics making services more accessible for local people."
Praise Heaped on Local Diabetes Group
Mark Griffin MSP was joined by Shadow Health Secretary Jackie Baillie MSP and Depute Provost of North Lanarkshire Council, Councillor Jean Jones, at Cornerstone Church on Tuesday to celebrate the achievements of the Cumbernauld and District Diabetic Support Group.
Cumbernauld is home to over 6,000 Type One and Type Two diabetes sufferers, with over 250,000 sufferers nationally. The Cumbernauld and District Diabetes Support Group works closely with North Lanarkshire Council and assists both the Health Board and the local authority provide advice and support to diabetics throughout the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth area.
As well as attending the event, Mr Griffin has lodged a Parliamentary Motion congratulating the group on the work they do.
Mark said:
"Cumbernauld and District Diabetes Support Group provides an excellent service to diabetics across our community and gives them the opportunity to hear from experts and learn from the experiences of fellow sufferers.
"I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the diabetics who attended the group’s event last week. There are over 6,000 Type One and Type Two diabetes sufferers in Cumbernauld alone and I would encourage people pay the group a visit if they are seeking any advice, or looking to be pointed in the right direction. "　
Shadow Health Secretary, Jackie Baillie MSP added:
"I was delighted to attend the Cumbernauld and District Diabetes Support Group’s information event and welcome the Group’s efforts to raise awareness about diabetes and support sufferers.
"The work of local groups like this make a huge difference to people’s experience and understanding and I commend all those involved as volunteers."
North Lanarkshire Council’s Depute Provost, and Kilsyth Councillor, Jean Jones, added:
"I was pleased to attend the event on Tuesday. It was very well organised and allowed people to come together and listen to the experience of fellow diabetics. I hope the group continues to go from strength to strength and look forward to hearing their progress."
Mark Shines Spotlight on Working Parents & Carers
Mark Griffin MSP has joined forces with of Usdaw, the shop workers union, at the Scottish Parliament to highlight the problems faced by workers who need emergency time off work to care for their children and/or ill family members.
Mr Griffin hosted a Parliamentary event on Wednesday 6 March 2013 to support Usdaw’s annual Spotlight Day, this year called - Time to Care – which focused on reminding workers of their existing rights and promoted the Union’s campaign to improve these rights, in particular introducing paid family leave.
Mark said:
"One in every eight Scots cares for a child or ill family member and studies show that each day in Scotland 500 people take on caring responsibilities.
"The Coalition Government’s changes to the welfare state are set to hit vulnerable people in our community hard and many are uncertain about the future of social security support.
"I am pleased that unions like Usdaw are playing their part in raising awareness of the support available and reminding us where improvements need to be made.
"I was delighted to host the event and spend time with Usdaw members, hearing first hand of their experiences and showing my support for paid family leave."
John Hannett, Usdaw’s General Secretary, added:
"Three quarters of our members are parents and/or carers and many struggle to juggle work with their family commitments – especially when unexpected family emergencies arise."
"At some point in our working lives we all need time off to care for someone close to us. Money worries are a growing concern for many thousands of our members. The legal rights available to workers for time off are unpaid, putting parents and carers under greater pressure at a time when they may already be feeling anxious."
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