Derek Maylor Reports On NWPA Open Conference 23rd October 2026
Here, Derek Maylor, CWU Retired Member Gter Merseyside Amal Branch and trustess of Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group; reports on a conference held by the North West Pensioners Association held in Jack Jones House, Liverpool
The Chair opened conference voicing concern over Reform in the NW, especially in Lancashire where since the 2025 local elections the council has been under the majority control of Reform, they are pulling apart democratic institutions. Also, a recent Government announcement to stock three days of food and supplies is the closest we have come to a food resilience statutory which must now be in the minds of Government.
Daisy Crump, an Organiser at Unite the Union, was the first speaker talking about Social Care, which 50% of recipients are working adults and between 70% and 80% of most council budgets is spent on Care. One in seven people in the UK will have £100,000 spent on their Care in their life time, business know this and consequently there is money and much profiteering taking money out of the system.
Care should be fully nationalised, this would save councils and the NHS enormous amounts of money which could be better spent on service for the public rather than increasing a few peoples bank balances. Unite are to launch a petition in November and there will be a national demonstration next year on 5th April.
1. End profiteering in care.
2. Full and fair funding of adult social care, distributed on the basis of need. 3. Establish a National Care Service built on strong workers’ rights.
Niel Hickson creator of Burscough Community Farm described their work which goes far beyond being a group of allotments which might be expected. Supported by various grants since 2013 they provide a range of skills and services for all ages and backgrounds. There are no individual plots, it is all common land and endeavour, everything is shared including, most importantly, is the experience.
Spread over several acres of land, all off grid, there is a bore hole with spring water, solar energy and the beginnings of a wind turbine. There is a role for everybody no matter how small it may be, recognised by GPs/NHS as a unique way to improve mental health by reconnecting with nature through Green Social Prescribing.
Walks around the farm, observing the beauty of nature, are excellent for reducing anxiety and promoting mental clarity. Reboot Your Life is a free, six-week course that can rebuild confidence, reduce stress and anxiety, and reconnect with nature while learning practical, creative skills. Sessions are supportive, low-pressure, and focused on progressing at your own pace alongside a friendly group.
Jacquie Hadfield works with Reclaim Social Care Greater Manchester and raised further concern with the current state of Care in the UK. A recent survey showed that only 4% of people are aware of the cost of providing Care should they need it for a family member. Years ago a system of council run care homes, home helps, meals-on-wheels etc ran well and provided trustworthy and caring service for those in need. As has been highlighted earlier, now there is a profit to be made.
We have seen some appalling conditions at Care homes, unsafe and unsanitary at times. There are also eight million unpaid careers in the UK, some of those with disabilities themselves. The Prime Minister’s statement last month supporting a National Care Service was welcome, but concerns remain about the private sector’s future role. The campaign estimates that private providers currently extract £1.5 billion a year from social care and is calling for a plan to end privatisation. It also wants details on how the service would be structured, funded and delivered, alongside immediate action to support people who rely on care, unpaid carers and the social care workforce.
Dr John Puntis, Keep our NHS Public, informed conference about the current state of the NHS with many concerning statistics. The NHS has a target of 18 weeks for commencement of treatment from diagnosis this was at 59% when Labour got into power, now it is at 65% so an increase but a slow improvement, projections are of a 35 week wait by the next general election. We have 5% more cancer scanners in the system but not enough radiographers to use them to their maximum capability.
There are huge dental deserts around the country and hundreds of less GPs than there were in 2014. In the UK there are 2.8 to 3.2 doctors per 1000 people, the EU average at about 4.2 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, according to World Bank data. In October 2025, Age UK revealed that the number of people experiencing corridor care had grown 525-fold since 2015/16, reaching over half a million incidents in 2024/25.
There are many social and wider determinants of health, a diverse range of social, economic and environmental factors which influence people’s mental and physical health; poor housing, unemployment, deprivation, the lack of nutritious food etc that need addressing to help the NHS. The NHS needs investment and not more PFI. Worryingly, King Fund data shows that whilst the NHS remains hugely popular in the UK, people’s confidence in it being able to provide a suitable service should they be in need is slipping.
The last speaker was Issack Rose from Greater Manchester Tenant’s Union who discussed housing. They are a democratic, multicultural, member-led organisation campaigning for safe, affordable and secure homes for everyone in Greater Manchester. All homes should be safe, repairs completed promptly, and residents able to remain in their homes for as long as they need. Issack spoke about María del Carmen Abascal’s eviction from her longtime Madrid home that sparked nationwide protests across Spain and unleashed a political crisis. She has become a symbol for renters around the world who are struggling with housing affordability. There are many people now living in shared accommodation and HMOs, “generation rent”.
A lot of older people are becoming homeless, much more council run housing stock is needed and an end of Right to Buy. There are some positive steps in the UK though, like Tower Hamlets in London. They offer a range of housing options support; advice, homeless temporary accommodation, or help finding a permanent home and have launched a Housing Options Resident Focus Group, where residents share their experiences.
Further information:
· Unite the union www.unitetheunion.org/campaigns/unite-stand-up-for-social-care
· Burscough Community Farm https://burscoughcommunityfarm.org
· End Social Care Disgrace https://endsocialcaredisgrace.org
· Keep our NHS Public https://keepournhspublic.com
· GMTU https://tenantsunion.org.uk
