October 2024

In the fifth of a series of articles charting the challenges facing Aldersbrook Medical Centre, Paul Wildish reports on the latest developments in the procurement of a permanent GP contract

Since February 2024, the patients of Aldersbrook Medical Centre (AMC), led by their Patient Participation Group (PPG), have been conducting a campaign to achieve a permanent settlement of GP providers of our choice from NE London Integrated Care Board (NELICB).

When the temporary contract expired, we wanted the providers from the Richmond Road practice in Hackney to remain, as they had introduced so many beneficial changes to what had previously been a failing practice. NELICB had other ideas and offered an extension of Richmond Road’s contract at a price they couldn’t afford. The PPG felt this could be construed as a ‘constructive dismissal,’ despite Richmond Road’s universally recognised award-winning clinical practice. We were determined to resist.

After public meetings, pickets at ICB HQ in Stratford and by enlisting the support of local councillors, our former MP John Cryer and Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of the NHS Confederation, the PPG has engaged with the NELICB constructively to ensure the patients’ voice is heard during the next phase of designing and awarding a new permanent contract that corresponds with our needs. No other PPG in the UK has conducted a campaign of this kind to win such formal negotiating access to be part of the process of the procurement of a permanent GP contract.

What have we won so far? As this will be a permanent GP contract, we know corporate providers are excluded. The NELICB has recognised the AMC surgery must retain GP services on site and not become a part-time or inadequately staffed annexe of a local practice. We insisted the ICB came to meet patients at a public meeting at Aldersbrook Bowls Club to explain the procurement process, answer questions and take regard of patients’ views in the selection process. Our biggest coup has been the secondment of the AMC PPG’s chair Terilla Bernard to the ICB panel. This will put the contract out to tender, conduct the bidding process, interview the shortlisted GP bidders and ultimately select the successful GP team. Hats off to the ICB for taking such regard for the patients’ voice that they have invited Terilla on board to represent us. The procurement process is governed by rules of commercial confidentiality and the contract will meet official NHS specifications. Terilla has therefore been required to sign an NDA until the end of the procurement process. During this time, any negotiations will be under strict purdah.

Until the winner of the bidding process is selected in January 2025, due diligence has been carried out and the successful winners announced, the patients and PPG will remain on tenterhooks. The new, permanent contract will commence in March 2025. We sincerely hope our Richmond Road GPs will win.

For more information about the Aldersbrook Medical Centre Patient Participation Group, visit wnstd.com/amc

In the second of a series of articles by those leading the campaign to save The George, Martin Wheatley reflects on some of the qualities of Wanstead’s ‘pub for all seasons’

The George truly is a pub for all seasons. We see the newly legal drinkers showing their ID with an air of feigned indifference; young men and women enjoying their well-earned leisure time, perhaps even experiencing the spark of young love without the aid of an app; families, from toddlers to grandparents, gathering for a meal; retired couples on a budget treating themselves to a few drinks and perhaps a bite to eat; pensioners keeping warm in winter more cheaply than heating their own homes, with the bonus of a drink; single men nursing a pint; folk attending a wake and raising a glass to the departed.

How does The George achieve this? Value for money is a factor but not the only one. There is no muzak, conversation is possible without shouting. Admittedly, there are some televisions but they, thankfully, are silent. Whenever I’m at the bar, the screen seems to be showing news of ghastly goings-on around the globe, which only serves as a reminder of what I came to the pub to escape. There is a good selection of real ale (even if this isn’t your tipple, I would hope the preservation of this uniquely British drink in the uniquely British environment of the pub is something you’d support). And they take cash. Paying for a pint of cask ale with coin of the realm is by no means possible everywhere, not even in Wanstead!

Above all, it is a public house. All members of the public are welcome and can feel comfortable there.

So, what can be done to save The George? None of us is privy to the financial ins and outs behind the scenes, but I imagine the rent is not cheap. On top of that, pubs have been mercilessly targeted for taxation by all governments and for a long time. The George looks busy enough but, I should say, less so than in years past. All that we cherish in our communities – church, post office, independent shops – all that actually constitutes a community, will wither and die if we don’t make use of them.

Do sign the petition, do lobby your MP, do whatever you can, but above all, put aside social media, the podcast, the boxset and head pub-wards to The George for a drink.

“Change your hearts or you will lose your Inns and you will deserve to have lost them. But when you have lost your Inns drown your empty selves, for you will have lost the last of England.” Hilaire Belloc wrote those words in 1912. They still hold true but we are drinking in the Last Chance Saloon Bar.

Redbridge Council is seeking feedback on leisure and culture offerings in the borough.

“As we develop a new leisure and culture strategy, we want to ensure Redbridge continues to offer opportunities that meet the evolving needs of our residents and visitors… We would appreciate your participation in our survey to help us plan for the next 10 years,” said a spokesperson.

The consultation closes on 20 October.

A new swimming pool in Wanstead Leisure Centre is scheduled to open in summer 2025.

Visit wnstd.com/leisure

Organisers of the Haven House Christmas Cake appeal are seeking local volunteer bakers to take part in the festive fundraiser.

“If you can bake a few Christmas cakes, please let us know. And if you would like to buy a cake in exchange for a donation to the children’s hospice, reserve one now, as supplies are, of course, limited,” said Paul Canal.

The appeal is now in its fifth year, with over 300 cakes baked and sold to date, raising over £4,000 for the Woodford Green charity.

Email havenhousebakers@gmail.com

The Wren Wildlife Group’s practical work sessions will resume in Wanstead Park this month.

We are a local conservation group about to start our season of work in Wanstead Park and on the Flats. This involves habitat management, clearing scrub and various other pieces of work as requested by the City of London. We meet weekly on Thursday mornings at 10am and at the same time on the first Sunday of the month. More help is welcome! All tools and gloves provided,” said Peter Williams.

Visit wnstd.com/wren

Paul Donovan invites you to sample all that’s on offer at the second annual Wanstead Beer Festival

The Wanstead Beer Festival will be bigger and better this year, with more beers and the addition of a gin bar. The 40-plus beers and ciders are drawn from across the UK, with Essex-based breweries Brentwood, Elephant and Billlericay all being well represented.

Brentwood’s popular Pride of Prague, brewed to mark West Ham’s European Conference Cup victory last year, will once again be available. Get in quick, as this one sold out last time.

Another Essex-based brewery is Mighty Oak, which brings its champion beer, Captain Bob – always popular and goes quickly.

The popular Sussex brewery, Listers, makes a return, bringing its best bitter. A new one from Listers is their premium bitter, Special Ale. 

Harveys of Lewes will again be represented with Best Bitter and a new surprise beer.

Gloucester brewery, Goffs, makes a first-time appearance with the all-American hopped Cheltenham Gold.

Closer to home is West London-based Portobello, who bring Market Porter and Central Line Red – hopefully they’ll be on time! 

The Wanstead Beer Festival prides itself on its local ethos. So, East London breweries like Redemption, Beerblefish, Neckstamper, East London Brewery and Pretty Decent are all prominent, particularly amongst the keg beers. Pretty Decent’s “I could get better in T*sco’s for a quid” was popular last year, whilst Beerblefish’s Lee Valley lager is another sell-out beer.

There will also be a variety of ciders available. Devon-based Farmer Jim’s will be providing the popular Rhubarb Bob. There will also be a Farmyard Perrie on offer from Farmer Jim.

Those who like their gin won’t be disappointed. New this year is the English gin bar. There will be gins from Essex, Sussex and East London. Plus wine, prosecco and soft drinks will again be available. Christ Church will be doing the food.

Last year, Wanstead put down a marker as a place that likes its beer. The beer trade is under pressure. Breweries and pubs are going under on a daily basis. The George in Wanstead is the latest to come under threat. Wetherspoons are seeking to sell the pub.

The George, in many ways, exemplifies what a lot of people are looking for in a pub – reasonably priced beer and food and somewhere to come and meet other people. The sight of four people sitting around a table on mobile phones is not unusual, but people do actually talk directly to each other as well. Then, there are those who come in for a drink and maybe to keep warm. This is why supporting our local pub and breweries is so important. People across the generations come in to meet and greet one another.

There is the campaign to save The George, which hopefully will succeed, but if not, we need to come up with alternatives. Beer festivals contribute, as do micro pubs. There are all sorts of possibilities. What is for sure is that our pubs and breweries need support – use them or lose them.

On that note, we look forward to seeing you at the second Wanstead Beer Festival. Again, funds raised will be going to charity.

So, plenty to look forward to. More people, more beers and gin – what’s not to like? Last year, the festival proved so popular that tickets sold out a week early. So, don’t miss out this time. Roll on 12 October. It’s your round.

The Wanstead Beer Festival will take place on 12 October (1pm to 11pm) in the halls of Christ Church. For more information and tickets, visit wnstd.com/beer