News

31st March 2005

John Bowis MEP visits Islington North

John Bowis in Islington

John Bowis visiting the Heart and Stroke Project, a voluntary project, based at Manor Gardens Community Centre in North Islington. It provides services to stroke survivors and people who have cardio-vascular disease in Islington - such as counselling, advice and information. It also includes a Heart and Stroke Club - a social club with a rehabilitative function. The project offers outreach services to people in their homes and provides transport to and from the club.

Press release from Islington Conservatives.

Last Thursday, Islington North Conservatives were visited by John Bowis, London MEP and Conservative spokesman on Health and Consumer Affairs in the European Parliament.

Accompanied by Parliamentary Candidate Nicola Talbot, he visited the Heart and Stroke Project at the Manor Gardens Community Centre, which provides social and rehabilitation support to people in Islington who have had a stroke and/or a cardio-vascular disease and their carers.

Surprisingly, one of the main requests of the staff running the Heart and Stroke Club, aside from more funding, was a blue parking badge so that they could park their minibus which brings patients to and from the centre just outside, free from the fear of parking fines. They had two tickets in January alone.

The Conservatives then went for a check-up on dental care in Islington at Holloway Dental Care centre. Nicola Talbot said; “I felt rather guilty as I had not been to the dentist for years, but I was shocked to hear how much the levels of deprivation in Islington have an impact on the dental health of residents. The dentist told us that poor education levels and bad diets cause most of the dental problems he has to deal with. If only he had the time to go into schools to educate children in brushing their teeth regularly, his waiting room would be cleared.”

John Bowis added; “Conservative plans to shift from fee-based dentist remuneration to payment by registered patient will improve access to NHS dentists for patients and enable dentists to promote preventative measures rather than having to treat patients when it’s all too late.”