Held at The Lights, Andover on Monday 18th March 2024 2pm – 4pm

 

Present:

• Conservative MP Caroline Noaks for Romsey & Southampton North.

• Labour MP Carolyn Harris for Swansea East

• 3 gentlemen from the Equality Commission ( sorry names not noted! )

Those also present were:

• Representatives from Gosport and Manchester OPF

• Jenny & Brian Kay AOPF.

• Independent Age members

• NPC members from several parts of the country.

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There was a lot of discussion about the use of computers and the difficulty the older generation can have. We are all being forced in every walk of life to go on-line to book appointments, order food, buy tickets or deal with claims etc. Banks in particular should be made to keep some form of counter service available even if this is by having a hub system open for bank assistants from all the banks that are closing in the area.

 

It was pointed out to the ministers that we need someone in Parliament for older people to champion our needs. MP Caroline Noakes said this is where a discussion on our worries was very useful to take back with her to use when she is involved in consultations.

 

Caroline asked if we would like a commissioner or an MP for older people and one person said she felt a commissioner would get things done more quickly as exampled by the Children's Commissioner that she had some knowledge of, but further discussion followed and most thought we needed both.

 

Problems with using ticket machines at rail stations or car parks was also suggested and the fact there were never staff around to help at stations, particularly if you were wheelchair bound, an alternative should always be available for those without Smartphone's.

 

Before long all phones are changing to digital, this will involve extra expense to purchase a Smart-phone, if you only have a home phone, also what happens to people with dementia or those that find a smart-phone too difficult to use. We still do not have complete coverage especially in the countryside, what happens to those people many of whom are elderly, if they have an emergency? The Ministers agreed.

 

Carolyn Harris noted in Wales they had managed to get an extra 25% uptake more than England for Pension Credit by concentrating on helping people with form filling.

 

The point was also made about the unfairness of women’s pensions in comparison to men’s but this subject was moving away from the technology theme being discussed and we moved on.

 

I was asked if I had any point that I wanted to raise and I mentioned the difficulty in getting an appointment on-line as this is the only method being used by many GP's practices rather than being able to simply phone the surgery. I also raised the point that so many appointments are now sent on-line or via a text message and it does not tell the patient what the appointment is for or which department. It should be acknowledged by hospitals that many patients have more than one health issue particularly as we get older and it can lead to many phone calls to track down which health department the appointment is from as we have found ourselves.

 

There was an opportunity for those present to make their points on film to be used by Independent Age.We hope the points raised will be taken notice of and the Ministers present will be able to influence “the powers that be!!!”

The ministers thanked us all and apologised because they had to leave earlier than planned for an unexpected vote in Parliament, They had arrived at 12 noon and had been able to speak to other group attendees over lunch, who had travelled long distances.

 

I felt Independent Age had achieved success in getting two MPs to our area but I was very disappointed that Brian and myself were the only representatives of the Andover area. I do not know how many other local groups for older people were contacted but they missed a great opportunity.

 

Report by: Jenny Kay Chair AOPF