Norman's Week in Quotes

January 30th - February 4th

"Police say they will knock door-to-door in the event of a threat. But we have remote communities dotted along the coast. There is no way you could deploy a police force along that coastline at the same time in the dead of night and in a raging storm."

- Norman is sceptical of the Police's ideas to replace the flood sirens in Norfolk.

"There is a risk that the culture of massive expenditure on gifts from the pharmaceutical industry could distort purchasing practises in the NHS."

- Liberal Democrat Health Spokesman, Norman Lamb calls for an end to drug firm gifts for Doctors.

"I understand that concerns have been raised and it's appropriate to ask for the facts before I reach any conclusions"

- Norman is intent on investigating the teacher training day for schools in Cromer. It was reported that teachers were playing Nintendo and receiving Indian head massages.

"We have to focus on getting the message across about the potential health risks of excessive alcohol consumption. However, we must be careful to support parents who are giving sound advice to their children and not undermine their judgement."

- Norman reacts to a government statement which states that children under 15 should never drink.

January 22nd - 29th

"It calls into question the wisdom of making it easier to gamble at a time when the scale of the problem is growing so dramatically."

- News that gambling is on the rise across the UK is an increasingly alarming problem according to Norman.

"The gap is large. I have no criticism of the ambulance trust, but when the new target came in last April it put more pressure on them. I do question whether there needs to be a separate target for rural areas to ensure good response times are achieved there as well. It is a worrying situation if having a stroke in a rural part of Norfolk means you don't get help in time."

- Norman's Freedom of Information Act request reveals ambulance response times in Norfolk.

"This report shows what a disaster the whole flawed programme has been from the start."

- Norman shows his concern for more money being spent on the NHS IT program.

"Getting it right will save money in the long term and increase well-being for people who have strokes. We cannot compromise on this: we have got to have a modern stroke strategy."

- Norman reacts to news that stroke care costs are rising in Norfolk.

"Patients and their loved ones are being exploited and that's not acceptable. The size of the price differential smacks of profiteering."

- Norman responds to reports that WH Smith keep their prices higher at their stores in hospitals than the high street.

"It calls into question the wisdom of making it easier to gamble at a time when the scale of the problem is growing so dramatically."

- News that gambling is on the rise across the UK is an increasingly alarming problem according to Norman.

"The gap is large. I have no criticism of the ambulance trust, but when the new target came in last April it put more pressure on them. I do question whether there needs to be a separate target for rural areas to ensure good response times are achieved there as well. It is a worrying situation if having a stroke in a rural part of Norfolk means you don't get help in time."

- Norman's Freedom of Information Act request reveals ambulance response times in Norfolk.

"This report shows what a disaster the whole flawed programme has been from the start."

- Norman shows his concern for more money being spent on the NHS IT program.

"Getting it right will save money in the long term and increase well-being for people who have strokes. We cannot compromise on this: we have got to have a modern stroke strategy."

- Norman reacts to news that stroke care costs are rising in Norfolk.

"Patients and their loved ones are being exploited and that's not acceptable. The size of the price differential smacks of profiteering."

- Norman responds to reports that WH Smith keep their prices higher at their stores in hospitals than the high street.

January 15th - 21st

"We're told that reoffending rates are brought down where you make it easier for families to keep in touch with prisoners. We're making it about as difficult as possible for families to reach prisoners when you build it in the Norfolk countryside."

- Norman states his opposition to the approval of plans to build a new prison at the ex-RAF airbase in Coltishall.

"While attention has rightly been on the massive problem of young people binge drinking, a hidden epidemic amongst the middle classes has gone unnoticed. The government has continued to massively under-fund alcohol treatment services, meaning this problem has been allowed to continue unabated."

- Norman reacts to news regarding the alarming level of drinking amongst the professional classes.

"This NHS Constitution contains no new rights or powers for patients, and there are no repercussions for trusts who breach it."

- Norman doesn't hold back on his thoughts regarding the new NHS constitution.

January 6th - January 14th

"To find now that midwives are at their most over-stretched since records began, adds to the shameful failure of the Government."

- Norman finds the recently documented strain on midwives to be completely unacceptable

"People will be shocked that so many civil servants are earning over £100,000 when nurses are struggling to make ends meet."

- Norman critiscizes the number of civil servants who are earning over 100,000 pounds.

"Slowly but surely the veil of secrecy around Whitehall is being lifted, despite mandarins having to be dragged kicking and screaming to release the information. This a groundbreaking decision which could open up Whitehall."

- Norman hails another success in his three and a half year campaign to have leading ministers have their official meetings made public knowledge

"This is compromising patient safety and putting staff in an impossible situation. How can there be any dignity for a patient and their family if they are left in a bathroom when they die?"

- Norman displays his disbelief that the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital moved a dead patient to a bathroom due to lack of room.

December 22nd - January 5th

"At the heart of this problem is weak management and indifferent political leadership."

- News that the number of patient deaths because of NHS staff errors is on the rise angers Norman

"In many ways the use of celebrities makes a lot of sense, but there's no justification at all for secrecy over these fees. It's unacceptable and ludicrous that the DoH refuses to release the amounts paid. It's public money and we have a right to know."

- Norman remains frustrated that details of stars fees for NHS campaigns are not being made public

"The health system is under impossible strain, putting staff under intense pressure and risking patient safety."

- Norman reacts to the news that ambulance crews in Norfolk are coming under extreme pressure over the festive break

"It's critical that patients get access to drugs from the NHS which are routinely available in other European countries. The current process takes far too long."

- News that life extending drugs will now be available on the NHS for certain cancer patients represents an improvement for Norman

"I don't think the private insurance model is going to achieve the transformation in care that we need. Our view is that it's got to be a shared responsibility between state and individual."

- Norman states his opposition to plans being considered by the government to force adults to take out private insurance to cover nursing home costs

"At the heart of this problem is weak management and indifferent political leadership."

- News that the number of patient deaths because of NHS staff errors is on the rise angers Norman

"In many ways the use of celebrities makes a lot of sense, but there's no justification at all for secrecy over these fees. It's unacceptable and ludicrous that the DoH refuses to release the amounts paid. It's public money and we have a right to know."

- Norman remains frustrated that details of stars fees for NHS campaigns are not being made public

"The health system is under impossible strain, putting staff under intense pressure and risking patient safety."

- Norman reacts to the news that ambulance crews in Norfolk are coming under extreme pressure over the festive break

"It's critical that patients get access to drugs from the NHS which are routinely available in other European countries. The current process takes far too long."

- News that life extending drugs will now be available on the NHS for certain cancer patients represents an improvement for Norman

"I don't think the private insurance model is going to achieve the transformation in care that we need. Our view is that it's got to be a shared responsibility between state and individual."

- Norman states his opposition to plans being considered by the government to force adults to take out private insurance to cover nursing home costs

December 15th - 21st

"This appears to be a substantial breakthrough for those who feel strongly about retaining a much-valued service in rural areas. It is obviously very good news. Common sense has prevailed."

- Norman is relieved at the news that GP surgeries will keep their right to dispense medication to patients.

'These are pretty stark figures which demonstrate forcefully that the Government's strategy on smoking has not been successful."

- Norman reacts to news that more men are now smoking.

December 8th - 14th

"When ministers introduced the new dentists' contract they said it would increase access to the NHS and make NHS work more attractive for dentists. Instead, access has got worse and in many areas NHS dentistry is in a real mess."

- Norman responds to the a review of NHS dentistry.

"The costs and impact of obesity, both for individuals and the health service are enormous. The NHS ultimately faces bankruptcy if we fail on this. Effective action to tackle obesity is long overdue."

- Norman counting the cost of news that one in three children are now obese.

"This is no way to treat an elderly person. The hospital is in an impossible position, it is under constant strain and it is unsustainable."

- Norman commenting on the news that an 88 year old woman had a 13 hour wait at the N&N hospital.

"I certainly support the idea of trying a new system and new approach but I think the problem we've got is they're enacting proposals which they've been pushing during the good times and then applying them during the bad times."

- Norman reacts to news that a new benefits scheme will be piloted in Norfolk.

"This is the nanny state going too far.'

- Norman reacts to the government's initiative for shops to keep cigarettes 'under the counter' in a bid to cut smoking rates among under 16's.

December 1st - 7th

"People were overwhelmingly clear they want to see direct elections and the Broads Authority have made a mistake not recognising that. They have failed to recognise the lack of legitimacy local people feel with regards to the authority."

- Norman talks up the virtue of a directly elected Broads Authority in Norfolk.

"But whatever the different culture and history, the overarching point is that the way they treat people in their communities is completely different and there are massive lessons to be learned from that."

- Norman wants to 'Go Dutch' in helping Britain protect its coastline.

"This was a complete missed opportunity to introduce real guarantees for patients on waiting times and access and make the NHS more accountable to the people it serves."

- Norman sees the Government's 'patients bill of rights' as nothing more than window dressing.

"But just to ignore it is pathetic. What sort of robust report is that? And beyond that, we need to find ways to tackle the issue of irregular betting patterns in the Far East."

- Norman is less than pleased with the FA's response to the allegations of match fixing during Norwich City's Championship match with Derby County.

"It is right to say that MPs are reluctant to criticise any Speaker, but I felt that I couldn't just sit on my hands when a senior member of staff was treated in that way and I think that ultimately we become complicit if we remain silent,"

- Norman questioning the Speaker of the House for allowing the Serjant at Arms, Jill Pay to shoulder all the blame for allowing police into the Commons without a warrant.

"The Government has been slow to acknowledge these problems and there's a risk that urgently-required reform will be knocked in the long grass as economic problems grab attention."

- Norman responds to research that claims two thirds of all dementia sufferers have not been identified by the NHS.

November 24th - 30th

'While it is important for people who have the capacity to work to find employment, the Government must not allow GPs to become bogged down in ever more red tape.'

- Norman ponders new health proposals to replace the traditional sick note with an electronic fit note.

"This is a local example of a national problem. Any increase in capacity must be good news but there are still massive problems with the way in which the contract works. This surgery does not solve all of the problems."

- Norman responds to the news that North Walsham will have an increase in NHS dentists

"He accepted they had in the past been guilty of giving the impression they wanted to give up land to the sea, and there was a need to get better at working with communities."

- Norman and local coastal campaigners recently met with the man in charge of Britain's coastal defences, Lord Smith

"There must be a fundamental re-examination of how the NHS deals with personal data"

- Norman reacting to news that the personal data of over 40,000 patients may have been exposed by an NHS blunder.

'The fact that this clinic is needed demonstrates the cost of the unbridled pursuit of gambling through supercasinos. People are suffering because of Labour's efforts to make gambling easier.'

- Norman responds to the opening of the first ever NHS gambling clinic

November 17th - 23rd

"I'm left asking the question if Oxford can do it why can't Norwich? That's the challenge for Norwich City Council. Oxford has demonstrated the way it can be achieved and we have got to make sure now we achieve the same breakthrough in Norwich."

- Norman questioning Norwich City Council's objection to having freewomen

"Instead of seeing an improvement we are seeing a deterioration and for those of us campaigning for a high- quality service from Norfolk linking us to the capital city, this is more bad news."

- Norman reflects on the end of the line for restaurant car

"The potential for saving lives through a system of presumed consent cannot be ignored. The experiences of other countries with such a system present a very powerful case for introducing it here. But it is vital that we ensure the ability to opt out is a genuine one. No families should be left feeling that such a step was taken against their will."

- Norman tackles the difficult issue of organ donation

"As part of out future energy mix, we have got to have a proportion from renewable energy. We have very real concerns about energy security with nuclear power stations reaching the end of their lives and with us relying more and more on Russia. It's really important that the finance is sorted out so these projects can go ahead."

- Norman's reaction to the news that the Sheringham Shoal Offshore wind farm lacks funding