Holocaust Memorial Day

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. Following my motion at the last Council meeting (see previous posts), the Council had organised a memorial tree planting outside Perceval House in the Uxbridge Road. The intention is that this should be the start of a regular tree planning on every Holocaust Memorial Day. Leo Thomson as Leader introduced the brief ceremony and Mike Elliott spoke afterwards as Mayor.

Leo, Mike and Darra planting the tree

There was a very good attendance from both members of staff and the local community. Obviously, this was particularly from the local Jewish community, including Rabbi Hershi Vogel from the orthodox Ealing and Acton synagogue (http://www.ealingsynagogue.com/) and Rabbi Janet Burden (who I met for the first time) from the Ealing Liberal synagogue (http://www.ealingliberalsynagogue.org.uk/).
However, it was also very positive that there was also prominent representation from the Armenian, Christian and Hindu communities.

To follow-up Holocuast Memorial Day, there will be a commemorative exhibition inside Perceval House, whilst a number of schools have also organised events. To his great credit, Darra Singh as Chief Executive sent an email to all staff this morning about Holocaust Memorial Day, which concluded “We must never forget the heroism of those who put themselves at risk to help Jews and others avoid almost certain death in the concentration camps. And we must never forget that we can all make a difference in the future by opposing discrimination whenever we encounter it.”

I went on in the afternoon to chair a meeting of the PCT Premises and Capital Planning Panel. We reviewed the progress on a number of our key new developments of GP premises and health centres. These include a new modern surgery premises at the Grand Union Village development on the Northolt/Greenford borders ; a much-needed high street health centre in Southall Broadway ; a new neighbourhood surgery at Jubilee Gardens in northern Southall ; and the replacement of the overcrowded Mattock Lane health centre in central Ealing. In and around East Acton ward, we have the new Cloister Road surgery opening next month (see previous posts), expanded surgery provision at Dr Sinna’s surgery on the Western Avenue, ideas for possible primary care provision in Park Royal, and plans for new modern premises in Southfield Road.

I raised the issue of the Old Oak Surgery, and the potential implications of it and the wider Hammersmith and Fulham PCT premises strategy, for demand on Ealing PCT services in East and eastern Acton. It was agreed that we would look at this issue, and consider options for expanded provision if that proves necessary