At Lincolnshire County’s Full Council Meeting on September 26 the agenda included a Quarterly Review of the new Wellbeing Service.
Whilst providing much needed help for those in crisis after a period of illness there are still some key issues that need resolving.
For example, one local resident discovered they were unable to get help when they came out of hospital at the end of the week.
Having no food at home they were unable to get help with either shopping or cooking because the partner organisation working with LCC was unable to assess their home and their needs until the following week.
However the larger concern is that it is not clear how the quality of care being paid for by LCC is being monitored. Without checking with service users it is not possible to identify or resolve issues.
There was also considerable debate over the future of our library services. The Conservative Group refused to accept Labour proposals to continue funding these important services and is pushing ahead with a Public Consultation based on imposed cuts.
During Gravity Fields in Grantham, in the forum ‘Science Futures’ a panel of scientists considered the impact of scientific breakthroughs. We were told that mankind has been able to ‘augment intelligence’ through the use of books and computers.
Despite the important recent breakthroughs being made by scientists this appears to be in spite of, rather than with, Government assistance. The work of the guest panelists who had found inspiration in their public libraries, included important environmental projects such as the identification, and subsequent reduction of the hole in the ozone layer, and, important progress in the management of the prescription of Warfarin taken by heart patients.
More investment is needed in science and we need more scientists. The inspiration for children and adults alike can be found on the shelves of a library, or by providing ready access for all to the internet. These cuts are a false economy. They are cuts we cannot afford to make.