It has been a full-on and worthwhile couple of weeks; Addressing the Health Secretary, meeting a constituent in Westminster, Top Hill Primary Visits Parliament, Dogs, and Care homes.
Westminster
In parliament I presented an update to the Secretary of State Jeremy Hunt and his team regarding my Patient Safety (APPG) All-Party Parliamentary Group evidence session that I chair. Also discussed hospital infections and my Handz Hygiene Campaign. Another group I chair in parliament is the APPG for Town Centres & High Streets, and we are looking at ways in which we can drive footfall into our high streets and ensure that it is flourishing. This is an important topic for me having spent nearly two decades in retail. More health related meetings including; meeting with the organisation Health Watch and the NHS Confederation, which is the only organisation that speaks on behalf of the all the sectors of the NHS. I dropped in to meet inspiring constituent Karen Stead at the Pancreatic Cancer UK event. Had a meeting regarding the Yorkshire Devolution deal. Also had a working dinner with a panel of experts discussing strategies on what we can do to tackle Childhood obesity.
Top Hill Primary School had a tour of parliament and I was pleased to do a Q& A session with them. They are really bright and some are very vocal about politics. It really is great to see such young people engaging in the political process. It was also a pleasure to meet the young girl who is standing to be the Children's Leeds Mayor. I then dropped into an event that three constituents were visiting on Crohn's and Colitis Care.
My dogs Lady & Godiva also won the Westminster Dog of the Year; this is a competition which is held one morning each year in Westminster and MPs enter their dogs into and campaign on animal welfare issues. It is ran by the Dogs Trust and also the Kennel Club. (I am passionate about animal welfare and am an officer on the Animal Welfare APPG.) Please watch this space as next summer I have a plan to organise an animal related event weekend in our constituency. West Yorkshire last year was deemed to be the worst in the country for animal cruelty so there is a lot we can do to raise awareness in this area.
I also took my dog Lady to Abbey House Vets in Morley on Monday and despite the wonderful high of the competition I was distraught to receive the news that she has mammary gland and lung cancer. She has had an operation this week and is starting on chemo shortly. I have been nursing her between meetings and am pleased to announce so far she is recovering well. I would like to thank Neil and the team from Abbey House Vets for truly first class care.
In Our Constituency; Sugar Tax, Work Experience, Care Homes, GP Surgeries
I visited local business Coke Cola and discussed the suggested Sugar Tax, and had three bright young chaps with us for work experience. They are incredibly talented and no doubt we have some future budding politicians in the making. Together we visited Sunnyview care home to get an understanding of what a modern care provider can offer. We then visited Siegan Manor in Morley to discuss what I can do to support, as Leeds City Council are in consultation with the view of possibly closing the facility, which is understandably causing great concern for the residents and their families. I have organised a further meeting with the families and Adult Social Care from the City Council which will take place on 20th November.
I then visited Outwood Park Medical Practice to meet patients and staff. This is the first of my tour of GP surgeries in our area, I want to get a real feel and understanding of the level of care, waiting times, views regarding the governments proposed 7 day NHS and look at how I can support.
I had a meeting regarding Wakefield Wildcats; this is an incredibly complex situation with different stakeholders with their own needs. I have been holding meetings since July and trying to keep it strictly non-political and see how we can mediate the situation and come to a positive conclusion for all involved including the fans. I know that Michael Carter and Phil Townsend are doing all they can and are trying their best for the club.
It makes the situation challenging when a certain Council Leader is getting political with this in the press, as this really does not help matters and slows the progress.
Had a great surgery in Morley Town Hall, managed to sort out a situation of a young girl who has been waiting since February to have surgery and is now booked in for December. I also bought some delicious cakes for my team this week from the Autumn Fair at Drighlington Methodist Church.