A city council has launched a campaign to tackle the misuse of disabled car parking bays at its leisure centres. The Baywatch campaign, launched in Preston in Lancashire, covers both Fulwood and West View leisure centres. The national campaign aims to discourage non-disabled drivers from using parking spaces meant for blue badge holders at supermarkets.
A relative of a disabled patient claims parking at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire is more difficult since stricter rules were brought in. People displaying blue disabled badges used to be able to park in any space but now the hospital says people must park in the bays allocated to them.
A Leicestershire railway station is to undergo work to improve access for its disabled passengers. Network Rail has announced that work to build two new lifts and a footbridge at Loughborough railway station will start later in the year.
Commenting on yesterday's announcement by Patricia Hewitt regarding patient choice, including a 'super website' and pilot projects in public libraries, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said:
People needing non-emergency orthopaedic treatment such as knee and hip replacements are to have a choice of going to any hospital in England. Ministers are making the announcement - a year ahead of schedule - as part of their plan to give patients more control over their NHS care. A new website giving information on hospital performance and treatments is also being set up.
People with diabetes in England need more support to help them manage their condition themselves, a survey finds. The Healthcare Commission also found more could be done to improve hospital care for people with diabetes.
