February 2024
=============


 


There was a definite hint of spring in the air at Stockbury Community Orchard this month.

 

The weather might have taken a turn in the last week, but the unmistakable lengthening of the days marches on. We have nearly made it through the winter and better days are on the way.

 

That’s certainly how it’s felt in my ministerial work recently, with the NHS starting to emerge from another tough winter – but one in which it’s coped significantly better than last year. 

 

There’s still plenty of work to do, but the preparations we made last year have made a big difference. Ambulance response times have halved from last winter, A&E wait times are falling, and people are being discharged from hospital faster.

 

That’s partly thanks to the record investment going into the NHS, but it’s also in huge part down to everything we’re doing to reform our health and care system.

 

Things like [Virtual Wards]([link removed]) – 10,000 new hospital-at-home beds allowing doctors to monitor patients’ recoveries at home. Or [Urgent Community Response]([link removed]) services – taking the pressure of ambulances and getting help to people faster. Or all that’s going on to join up health and social care.  

 

As the Social Care Minister, I never stop banging the drum for care workers. Care is a skilled job which deserves recognition, and in January I was proud to introduce the first ever [Care Workforce Pathway]([link removed]). It’s part of my mission to turn care into a career which works for the UK workforce – with nationally recognised training, qualifications, and career progression.

 

It’s not just hospital and social care seeing changes. January also saw the launch of [Pharmacy First]([link removed]) - expanding the role of community pharmacies and for the first time ever allowing them to prescribe some medicines.

 

It’s expected to free up 10 million GP appointments by next winter – a huge boost for GP access locally.


Here in Kent we’ve seen an increase in the number of appointments offered by GP practices of nearly 20% in the last two years alone, but I’ve been working to get services to some of our less well-served communities.

 

I’m trying to bring the [GP surgery back to Teynham]([link removed]) with the help of local councillors, and I’m also keeping up the fight for better access to healthcare in Park Wood and Shepway.

 

With the Government’s dental recovery plan recently published, I also want a new Kent Dental School to join our hard-won Kent Medical School. I’m leading 14 other Kent MP’s in the [campaign]([link removed]).

 

As we move towards spring I’ve also been [bringing together local parish councils]([link removed]) on 1 of my 5 local priorities – getting more local environment projects off the ground. That includes restoring Downswood Nature Reserve, and I’d love to hear from anyone keen to get involved. 

 

We had the [Roads Minister come to Brenley Corner]([link removed]) last month to discuss the redevelopment options he’s considering, and I’m keeping up the fight for a Blue Bell Hill upgrade as soon as possible. I’m ramping up the campaign for a Leeds-Langley relief road too.

 

We also heard this month that Kent’s Project Gigabit procurement is now live, and I’m hoping that we might imminently have some very exciting news for current broadband non-spots Wichling and Throwley. 

 

And on the 8th March my [sixth annual Maidstone Apprenticeship Fair]([link removed]) returns at Maidstone Leisure Centre – with over 1,600 Year 11,12 and 13 students coming to meet companies from Amazon to Shepherd Neame. Please do get in touch if anyone you know would like to come along. 

 

After a tough couple of years, it's so uplifting to see all of the green shoots emerging both locally and nationally. Spring must really be on the way.  

 

Scroll down to find out about everything mentioned above and lots more below. 


**Minister commits to more local council funding**
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I've been campaigning for councils in Kent to get more money for local services - and last month they did.

[Find out more here]([link removed])


**Record number of bobbies on the beat in Kent**
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Neighbourhood Policing is expanding across the county, and we've seen a big increase in rural officers.

[Find out about Trigger the police dog]([link removed])


**Let's get Kent training our own dentists**
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I'm leading 14 Kent MPs in calling for a new Kent Dental School - to join the recently won Medical School. 

[Read more here]([link removed])


**Sowing the seeds for local environmental projects**
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I'm bringing together parish councils from across the constituency to get local projects off the ground.

[Find out how to get involved]([link removed])


**All aboard the Detling Shopper Bus!**
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I took a ride on one of the new community transport services we won locally to replace lost bus routes.

[Find out more here]([link removed])


**Lend a hand with our Faversham underpass project!**

 

I'm putting together a team to fix up Faversham's underpass and get a mural celebrating the town's history installed.

 

If you'd like to contribute to the design, or you're a local artist keen to get involved, we'd love to hear from you.

 

Please email me at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])


**Good news for local broadband blackspots**
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Project Gigabit procurement is now live in Kent - and we've nearly got big news for Wichling and Throwley.

[Find out more]([link removed])


**Faster prescriptions with the new Pharmacy First**
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We're freeing up GPs' time by expanding the role of local pharmacists - with 95% signed up.

[Read my article here]([link removed])


**Roads Minister scopes out upgrade at Brenley Corner**
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I hosted Guy Opperman MP at the junction to talk about the various options being looked at.

[Read about our meeting]([link removed])


**Huge progress made on animal welfare since 2019**
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As a lifetime animal owner, I've been proud to support the our world-leading programme in recent years.

[Find out what we've achieved]([link removed])


**Maidstone Apprenticeship Fair back again in March**
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My annual Maidstone Apprenticeship Fair is back on 8 March - hosted with 6 other Kent MPs. Please get in touch with my office if you're thinking about an apprenticeship, or if you're a business looking to take people on. 

[Get in touch with my office]([link removed])


If there's anything else I can help you with please email me at [email protected]

Please pass this email onto anyone you think might be interested and encourage them to sign up to these newsletters on my website, [here]([link removed]).


*Copyright © 2023 Member of Parliament for Faversham and Mid-Kent, All rights reserved.*
 

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