As a result of the team’s performance at the tournament the College is now part of a colleges league in the Eastern Counties and already the fixture list for the 15-a-side game has grown with matches already in the calendar with West Suffolk College (Bury), Long Road Sixth Form College (Cambridge), Greshams, Langley and Fakenham schools and East Norfolk Sixth Form College.

“We have a good squad of players this year, with many playing regularly for their club, North Walsham, teams and a number representing Norfolk” said team manager Matt Phelps. Passionate rugby supporter, Principal Peter Mayne, was delighted with the early success of the team, hoping that we were witnessing “a renaissance in Paston rugby”.

Our hospitals are far worse than those on the Continent. Despite the Government being warned four years ago, action has not been taken to improve cleanliness and infection control. I am very concerned that many people in Norfolk, like pensioners, are now worried about entering hospital because of fears about catching superbugs. Vulnerable people may be avoiding getting the health care they need.” 

At the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital cases of MRSA have increased by 3% this year in 2003-4 and it has one of the higher rates incidents of MRSA per 000 beds (0.21). This is 20% higher than the national average.  Outlining an action plan to tackle these hospital-acquired infections across England and restore public confidence in the NHS, he said, “Labour have not responded to the rising number of MRSA cases with the urgency required. They are all talk.

The next Conservative Government will take action to enable doctors and nurses to provide cleaner hospitals.”  The action plan includes measures to: Abolish flawed Whitehall targets which have overridden the recommendations of infection control teams to close beds or wards for cleaning.  Require the preparation and publication of infection rates in each hospital, on the basis of each clinical department.  Recruit additional infection control nurses and include training in infection control for health professionals.  Iain Dale concluded: “Under Labour, billions of pounds have been spent on the NHS but there are too many bureaucrats, too many dirty hospitals and too many people waiting for treatment. Under another Labour Government, patients would go on waiting and hospitals wouldn’t get any cleaner. Conservatives will get our hospitals clean, get money through to frontline services and give patients the opportunity to choose where and when they get their treatment.”

LAMB TO COLLECT PETITION FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ON CROMER ROAD, SHERINGHAM

The petition calls for the implementation of proposals for a mini-roundabout at the junction at the top of Beeston Road, and the possibility of 2 controlled crossing points for pedestrians: one in the pine grove area, and one in the playing field area.