Government must do more than just give money to the NHS says Cllr Roodhouse

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse has written to the local papers about the need for the Government to do more than just give money to the NHS. Councillor Roodhouse says we must invest now in preventative programmes, join the health and well-being agendas, and bring the decaying old St Cross building back into community use.

Dear Editor,

The Government must do more than just give more money to the NHS. We have a growing older population and an increase in mental health especially in the younger generation, but none of the extra funding promised will address these issues.

We must invest now in preventative programmes. We must join the health and well-being agendas. I wrote recently about the decaying old St Cross building. It is disappointing that there is still silence on the matter. Opportunities exist to bring such buildings back into community use. They should be redeveloped to support our growing older population and to provide support for people in Rugby.

I welcome the extra funding the Government has announced, but will it reach the front line, and will it go towards support and prevention. There is so much more we need to do to prevent the next winter crisis, reduce mental health issues and support our older population. Alongside any funding there needs to be a plan of action. We can do better than this and I will continue to call for more joined up thinking.

Yours sincerely,

Jerry Roodhouse

Councillor for Paddox Ward and Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group on Rugby Borough Council