Delay in Hounslow Stroke Speech and Language Therapy

Chiswick Gunnersbury councillor Ranjit Gill reports back


Cllr Ranjit Gill

February 24, 2024

Councillors come across different cases but none like the one I am about to tell you about. One of our residents in Chiswick Gunnersbury wrote to me late September 2023. The resident’s husband, 'Mr X', had a stroke, was taken to Charing Cross Hospital and was discharged five days later.

For the next four weeks Mr X had regular callers, a speech and language therapist once and two assistants once each. Mr X’s stroke was purely speech based. Since then, Mr & Mrs X have not heard anything. They were informed that there was a delay in the speech and language therapy in Hounslow. Three months on, and nothing has happened. A request to be put on the waiting list was requested but Mr X is number 33 on the waiting list. Mrs X herself is a doctor and knows what needs to be done.

Dr. X regards the lack of follow up speech therapy as virtually criminal negligence. Most people cannot afford speech therapy privately and it is expensive but luckily this couple can. A three-month period without any form of speech therapy back up is catastrophic for future rehabilitation. The golden period for speech rehabilitation, I am informed, is the first few months, with improvement thereafter.

It was depressing to hear at Charing Cross Hospital that if you live in Hounslow, its bad news for speech rehabilitation. Of course, if you lived in Hammersmith, you are better off. Why is it bad if you live in Hounslow? The Director of Public Heath in Hounslow informs me that Hammersmith and Hounslow are part of NW London ICB who coordinate NHS care for both Boroughs. Any differences in waiting times and quality of care NW London ICB needs to be addressed.

We await a response. If anyone has had similar differences in care in our Borough you can write to your Councillor or me, but you can email NHS NW London ICB on nhsnwl.complaints@nhs.net

It does appear that there is a systemic issue regarding the availability of speech therapy services in Hounslow as compared to our neighbouring borough of Hammersmith & Fulham. A critical matter that needs urgent attention. Dr. X has written to the Leader of the Council and the CEO bringing this to their attention.

If you have a similar issue and wish me or any of my fellow Councillors to take this up, please get in touch. We want to improve and ensure Hounslow residents have the same services and wait times similar with or better than our neighbouring Boroughs.

Gunnersbury Garden Estate W3

All three Chiswick Gunnersbury Councillors want improvement of services in our ward. We are working hard to deal with the lighting, roads, trees, and safety in this part of the borough for our residents. Hounslow Highways today confirmed that:

  • Following their night survey as requested by us, has identified dark spots on the estate. Hounslow Highways is actively looking into resolving this issue.
  • Hounslow Highways have also confirmed in a fortnight or so they will be pollarding the trees and removing the branches below the lamp post to ensure the light is not blocked by foliage.
  • Hounslow Highways is also looking and the wattage of the streetlights.

On Wednesday 28 February at 8pm the Police team lead by Sergeant Jim Cope will conduct a night walk with local residents to identify these dark spots and to deal with the issue of the stalker.

It is an important visit as we need the Police to confirm that the lighting needs improvement. Hounslow Highways and the Safety Communities of LBH have also been invited to this visit.

The Police will also visit Sainsbury on Gunnersbury Lane, near Acton Town tube station to discuss with the manager the problem of shoplifting that occurs regularly.

A further Police meeting will be held at the Club House with Anil Puri the Superintendent to update residents about safety and precautions that they need to protect their homes from burglaries which seem to occur on a regular basis. A date will be announced shortly.

Mayor Reception 28 February 2.30pm

The LBH Mayor is holding a reception at Hounslow House to honour our local heroes who have carried out wonderful community projects and this reception is the honour and acknowledge their contribution to the local communities. Councillors are invited make a nomination. I shall be attending this reception to support my recommendation and all those who have been nominated.

Budget - Conservative Group Advocates Bold Budget Amendments for Hounslow Residents

As every year, the council needs to agree its budget which forms the basis of spending in our borough.

Amidst the current cost of living crisis, raising council tax in Hounslow this year would exacerbate the financial strain on residents. Families are already grappling with increased prices for essential goods and services, making every pound count. A council tax hike would impose an additional burden on households, hindering their ability to meet basic needs and contributing to the growing affordability challenges.

The Conservative Group will be prioritising financial relief through an amendment to the Budget for a freeze on council tax - demonstrating a commitment to alleviating the financial pressure on residents during these challenging times, fostering a more supportive environment for the community to navigate the current economic hardships.

Alongside a 0% increase in Council Tax, the Conservative Group will be calling for the council to fix and clean our streets, make our borough safer through increased streetlighting and increasing our law enforcement efforts, and scrapping unnecessary costs within the council. More to come on this next week!

Cllr Ranjit Gill

ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk

07976 702956

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tuesday 27 February 2024 at 7:30pm Borough Council budget-setting meeting

Tuesday 13 March 2024 from 6.30pm Chiswick Area Forum Celebrating Culture

Monday 18 March 2024 at 7:00pm Cabinet

Tuesday 26 March 2024 at 7:30pm Borough Council

THEN:

6th Floor, Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB

During weekends, residents can still access council services on-line or via emergency numbers:
To inform the council of an emergency, please call 020 8583 2222

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLOR SURGERIES

Chiswick: Every Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30am at Chiswick Library (the eight Conservative councillors take this surgery in turn).

Gunnersbury: First Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am at The Gunnersbury Triangle Club, Triangle Way, off The Ridgeway, W3 8LU (at least one of the Chiswick Gunnersbury ward councillors takes this surgery). 

CONSERVATIVE COUNCILLORS and CONTACTS

Chiswick Gunnersbury (was Turnham Green) ward

Cllr Joanna Biddolph joanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 703446

Cllr Ranjit Gill ranjit.gill@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702956

Cllr Ron Mushiso ron.mushiso@hounslow.gov.uk 07976 702887

Chiswick Homefields ward

Cllr Jack Emsley jack.emsley@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 396017

Cllr Gerald McGregor gerald.mcgregor@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784821

Cllr John Todd john.todd@hounslow.gov.uk 07866 784651

Chiswick Riverside ward

Cllr Gabriella Giles gabriella.giles@hounslow.gov.uk 07966 270823

Cllr Peter Thompson peter.thompson@hounslow.gov.uk 07977 395810  

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