Brexit is making the staffing crisis at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust even worse, the Liberal Democrats have warned.

Figures published by the Liberal Democrats reveal that 44 EU staff working at our local trust have already left the health service this year including eight nurses and midwives.

In the three years since the Brexit vote, 158 NHS staff from the EU have left the local trust.

Staff departures from University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust are part of a worrying national trend: over 3,250 NHS staff from the EU have left the health service so far this year, including 1,116 nurses. The data, based on responses to Freedom of Information requests across 50 NHS hospital trusts, reveals that:

So says Paul Ray Lib Dem General Election candidate

"The Liberal Democrats' position on Brexit is crystal clear. We are the strongest party of Remain. The Conservatives want to lead us over the Brexit cliff. That brings economic disaster with massive job losses, worsening of the staffing crisis in the NHS and social care since these sectors are so reliant on EU workers, the break-up of the UK….

THE ENVIRONMENT IS MAJOR ISSUE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION - AND LIB DEMS HAVE THE RIGHT POLICIES

Paul Ray, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Lichfield & Burntwood has said "The environment is a major issue that will decide this general election and the Lib Dems have the policies to tackle the climate emergency. These include:

Off to a flying start - Paul Ray the Liberal Democrat candidate for Lichfield and Burntwood is pictured with some of the 10 strong team who were there to support him and handing out our newly printed leaflets.

The NHS and Social Care

Paul Ray, election candidate for Lichfield, writes:

How long do you have to wait to get a GP appointment in Lichfield?

Under this government the serous staff shortages across the two sectors arise from a perfect storm of insufficient money (NHS funding not keeping pace with population change and drastic cuts to social care funding), a hostile environment and falling value of the pound deterring much needed help from abroad and then the pension chaos forcing the most highly skilled to cut their hours.

Paul Ray will represent the Liberal Democrats when voters go to the polls on 12th December. He previously stood for the Lib Dems at the General Election in 2015 and 2017.

A party spokesperson said his credentials where clear for all to see.

"Paul is a very active and committed councillor with a track record for taking time to deal with local residents' issues relating to planning, housing, public nuisance, traffic and road safety.

Paul Ray, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Lichfield:

"The Lib Dems are the only major party to have come out unequivocally against the UK leaving the European Union which would impoverish the country for at least a generation. The Conservative Party appear to wish to lead the country over the cliff of an economic and social disaster, and Labour's current leadership seems unable to make up its mind. Jeremy Corbyn though has always been against membership of the EU that has brought billions of pounds of benefits to communities throughout the nation and this region.

Paul has lived in Lichfield for 19 years and is married with three children.

Paul also has family members of the older generation living in Lichfield which means he has a good understanding of the issues affecting that part of the population.

Paul has spent all his adult life in the Midlands following graduation in 1986 from Aston University. He has worked as a solicitor since 1997 and has been a partner since 2005. He specialises in finance law advising in the private and public sectors and as finance is key to any business or organisation, Paul's work gives him very relevant experience of the pressures affecting business and the public sector.

At its meeting on Monday 21 October 2019 Lichfield City Council agreed to a motion which formally recognised that a climate emergency exists, and resolved to take this into account as a factor in future spending decisions of the City Council. The Climate Emergency motion, proposed by Liberal Democrat Councillor Hugh Ashton, provoked a lively and passionate debate, with useful contributions from all sides. Cllr Ashton says:

Residents have been warned that the fight to save Friary Grange Leisure Centre is still not over.

The future of the facility was thrown into doubt when Lichfield District Council announced plans to shut the site from April 2020.

But a petition backed by thousands of residents led to a review of the decision, with the local authority's Cabinet set to make a final decision next month.