Last week was another varied one in Parliament with lots
going on. I spoke in the Chamber about the Government’s support for the Cornish
Protected National Minority Status.
I also hosted an event in Parliament to promote the
extraordinary work of the Cornwall Air Ambulance, as well as launching a
campaign, in the run up to Fathers’ Day, to encourage dads to read to their
children, which not only benefits children in encouraging them to read but
strengthens the father/child relationship which can come under so much pressure.
At the beginning of last week I was delighted to see the successful
outcome of the campaign to keep Mevagissey Surgery open, when a new partner was
found to help run the surgery from Veor Practice in Camborne.
This was a true example of everyone in Mevagissey and the
surrounding communities pulling together to run a positive campaign, highlight
their situation, which they managed to get international attention for, and
work with local NHS decision-makers for the right outcome.
I was pleased to play my part too in raising awareness of
the campaign, supporting the community in their immediate aims of highlighting
the issue, and stressing how important the surgery is, having visited the
sessions held in the surgery by the NHS and met with staff and campaigners. I
was able to raise this issue twice in Parliament at the highest levels, secured
the support of the Prime Minister and Health Minister, and also, along with the
local Cornwall Councillor responding in detail to the NHS consultation on the
future of the surgery.
It was a great outcome and a result of the very positive and
constructive approach of the campaigners which was in sharp contrast to others
who simply chose to snipe negatively from the side lines and accept defeat
without even putting up a fight. People came together at every level,
concentrated on what they could achieve, and secured the right outcome,
something the community of Mevagissey and all concerned can rightly be very proud
of.
Something that this situation highlighted was the real
challenge we face in many coastal and rural communities in attracting and
retaining the NHS staff we need.
With this in mind I was pleased to get confirmation from the
Health Minister as a result of my raising this issue in Parliament that the new
NHS People Plan released this month contains measures to improve this situation.
Part of the NHS Long Term Plan which was announced in
January, the People Plan, sets out a new service model to take more action on
prevention and health inequalities, improve quality of care and health outcomes
across all major health conditions, harnesses technology to transform services,
as well as getting the most out of taxpayer investment. Along with ensuring NHS
staff get the backing they need to deliver these outcomes. In particular it
includes measures to attract more GPs to coastal and rural areas and steps to
ensure we are able to maintain our local health services.
The NHS is a vast organisation and it is vital it is run
properly and as efficiently as possible, with the best interests of its
patients, staff and the taxpayer at heart. With the NHS People Plan and Long
Term Plan things are moving in the right direction and I will continue to
ensure the interests and unique challenges of places like Cornwall are
recognised when it comes to this in the future.
My team and I are here to serve the whole
constituency and work hard to make a real difference to the lives of everyone
needing support. The office is open to the public Monday – Friday 10.00am –
4.00pm (no appointment necessary). If there is an issue you would like my
assistance on then please, either visit the office or contact me on either
01726 829379 or office@stevedouble.org.uk. Additionally, I hold regular,
appointment only, advice surgeries across the constituency. Dates of these can
be found at: www.stevedouble.org.uk/events
