Andrew Pelling

Pelling looks to be ice breaker between NHS and Council

07 January 2010

Council and NHS should work together to reduce snow and ice casualties

I was pleased that the Minister of State, Sadiq Khan MP, responded warmly in the House today to my suggestion that the NHS and Councils to work together on reducing icy pavement accidents.

I am running a petition on the matter which says that it would be worthwhile investing in extra gritting such that less public money is spent caring for the injured - better for the public purse and those who avoid injury.

My petition can be signed HERE.

I set out the Hansard exchange below:

Mr. Andrew Pelling (Croydon, Central) (Ind):

On the first Monday of the cold snap, 25 people reported to Mayday’s accident and emergency department with fractures, compared with six at the same time in the previous year, when the weather was somewhat balmier. Will the Minister look positively at what is done by Durham primary care trust, which provides money to the local authority as a preventive measure to ensure that there is more gritting and therefore fewer people turning up at hospital injured?

Mr. Khan:

I am happy to listen to good ideas. I would be keen to consider whether the Department of Health and the DFT can work better together and whether lessons can be learned from Durham that can be used in London and other parts of the country. I am happy to go away and look at the hon. Gentleman’s suggestion.