David Ward

Through their dedication and skill, nursing staff change the lives of people every day – yet this amazing contribution is rarely recognised. Our nursing workforce is at a critical juncture. Staff are exhausted and morale is low.  More nursing staff than ever before are leaving the profession, piling the pressure on existing staff, who are now expected to do more work for less pay. Action must be taken to address these issues urgently. I'm proud to be a local nursing champion and have pledged my support for the Nursing Counts manifesto from the Royal College of Nursing. Their manifesto calls on all political parties to improve, value and invest in nursing.    Continue reading

BTRS (Brain Tumour Research and Support) are involved in several sporting events in Leeds this year including the Leeds 10k and Total Warrior. Events like these would not be possible without the incredible support of volunteers. As official charities in both of these events, BTRS are committed to recruiting volunteers to help the race organisers on event day. Continue reading

The need for a long-term sustainable solution for social care to meet people's increasing support needs, and relieve pressure on the already stretched NHS, has featured strongly in election coverage over the past week.   An ageing population and their families will have this issue in their minds as Election Day approaches. As the professional association for organisations providing care to people in their own homes, UKHCA have launched a Manifesto for supporting older and disabled people to live independently. Continue reading

Last October the previous Government announced they would exempt people with ‘severe, lifelong conditions’ from the need to undergo ‘pointless’ reassessment once they have been found eligible for ESA and placed in the support group. But they have not yet implemented this policy, which is supported by all the main political parties.  However, this policy has not yet been implemented and people with motor neurone disease continue to be reassessed for ESA despite MND being a rapidly progressing terminal condition with no periods of remission. People with the disease will only see their symptoms get worse, not better. MNDA believe, and I agree that reassessments are unnecessary and stressful for people with MND, and a waste of public money. It's important the next Government upholds the commitment to scrap them.   Continue reading

Friday 26th May 2017 was the UK’s first Face Equality Day. There were news reports, activities nationwide, and ways for everyone to get involved to show their support on Face Equality Day. This is the first time we’d had a Face Equality Day in the UK, and Changing Faces created the day to enable them to increase awareness of Face Equality, the campaign to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and equally whatever the appearance of their face or body. Changing Faces have published Disfigurement in the UK, a ground-breaking new report on the experiences of people who have a disfigurement. Find out more… Continue reading

There are an estimated 2,400 people living with cancer in Bradford East, and this could rise to 4,700 by 2030.  Nationally, every family in the UK is likely to be affected at some point.  But too often, people with cancer don’t get the support they need. Health and care staff are facing unsustainable pressure. Many people are struggling to cope with the cost of cancer. And wishes about care at the end of life aren’t being met. Macmillan is calling on political parties to commit to the following over the course of the next Parliament: Continue reading

Musculoskeletal conditions are the single biggest cause of disability in the UK, affecting 10 million people. They amount to the third largest area of NHS spending, with an annual budget of £4.8 billion, and are the cause of one in five working days lost in the UK. It is estimated that over 60,000 people in Bradford live with osteoarthritis. Arthritis Research UK is the charity dedicated to stopping the devastating impact that arthritis has on people's lives. They invest in breakthrough treatments and the best information to support everyone affected by arthritis. Their remit covers all conditions which affect the joints, bones and muscles including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain and osteoporosis. Arthritis Research UK have launched their Prevent, Transform, Cure Manifesto for the 2017 General Election, which has four key policy asks to help people with arthritis: Continue reading

Corbyn says Labour will crack down on bad landlords... But Labour in Bradford have failed tenants for years by blocking calls to register private landlords year after year. Labour in Bradford - FORTHEMSELVES NOTFORUS Continue reading

The result of the EU referendum means the next government will have unprecedented choices to make about how to protect people’s health, rejuvenate our wildlife and green spaces, and meet our international commitments to tackle climate change. For too long action on the environment has been seen as something that will only benefit future generations or put off as a ‘nice to have’. But the harm done by environmental problems such as air pollution and climate change is costing lives now. Continue reading

I'm backing Vinny and if elected, will vote against the repeal of the Hunting Bill. A Vote for Vinny means... You want to keep fox, hare, stag and mink hunting illegal You want to increase sentencing for animal cruelty, including dog fighting Find out more at votesforvinny.org.uk. Continue reading