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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 112. As of today, we have had a total of 4,144,577 positive cases of COVID-19 with 121,747 confirmed deaths in the UK - with today’s REACT study saying 13.9% of the population have COVID-19 antibodies. There have been 5,657 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 241 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 280 active cases in Waverley. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

116 DAYS UNTIL FREEDOM (MAYBE) On Monday the PM announced his lockdown exit plan. The summary document can be found here ([link removed]) . The excellent news is that there’s a chance that all limits on social contact could be removed by June 21 - the first time that has been in prospect. On March 8, all schools will open (but not universities). If you’re a worried parent (but most I know, I have to say, are mightily relieved at the end of home schooling) I recommend this study by the University of Warwick ([link removed]) confirming that schools are safe. From March 29 outdoor gatherings of six people from up to six households or any number from two households will be allowed. On April 12 (at the earliest), non-essential retail
will open as well as gyms, swimming pools, libraries, and museums. By May 17 (again at the earliest), up to 30 people could be permitted to meet outdoors and indoor mixing could resume but the rule of six or two households will still apply. Broadly this feels like a sensibly cautious approach as do the public according to a YouGov poll ([link removed]) where 46% believe the government has got the balance right (16% say we are moving too slowly and 26% too quickly). In the last seven days: coronavirus cases ⬇️15%, hospital admissions ⬇️21%, and deaths ⬇️31% across England. One thing I never really understand is the extent to which this is because of measures such as lockdown/vaccines or a more mysterious ability of the virus to act in ‘waves’ which it seemed to do last August when cases carried on falling even as restrictions were eased. Answers on a postcard.

VACCINE UPDATE As of yesterday, 18,242,873 people in total have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the UK – we are currently still ranked an impressive third globally for vaccines per capita, with Israel leading the race. More locally, St Christopher’s Church Hall in Haslemere reopens for vaccines today. I understand that vaccine supply issues mean it may not operate at full capacity right away but today's news is a great step forward so massive thanks to Haslemere GP Dr Phil Ridsdill Smith and his team for making it happen. It is also great that vaccine appointments can now be booked online by clicking on a link when you get the text message inviting you in. Elsewhere in South West Surrey the vaccination programme is also progressing smoothly.

HEART DAMAGE has been found in 50% of COVID-19 patients discharged from hospital. The UCL researchers examined around 150 patients from six major hospitals in London who had increased troponin levels, suggesting heart injury. Click here ([link removed]) to read more about the research which will only add to the growing concerns about long COVID-19.

The key number to remember for anyone with pandemic-related difficulties remains 0300 200 1008 the Surrey Helpline run by Surrey County Council (Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm).

WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER

WONDERFUL WORKFORCE Thoughts are inevitably turning to what the post-pandemic world will look like, and my priority is to make sure we do right for the brilliant health and care workforce who have done so much for us. So this week I asked the Prime Minister ([link removed]) , the Health Secretary ([link removed]) and the Minister of State for Social Care ([link removed]) what they are doing to ensure that we are training enough doctors and nurses to make the NHS self-sufficient in the years to come. During my time as Health Secretary I increased the number of medical school places by 25%, opened six new medical schools and increased the number of trained clinicians by 40,000 (including 14,000 nurses). But was it enough? I always felt we needed a more structured and strategic approach to workforce planning given it takes a whopping seven years to train a doctor - hence my lobbying for a long-term, independent workforce plan.

NOT TO FORGET SOCIAL CARE I also requested a long overdue ten-year plan for social care from Boris ([link removed]) just as we have for the NHS. The Health and Social Care Select Committee, which I chair, believes social care funding needs to go up by £7bn a year by the end of the parliament. Click here ([link removed]) to see if the government agrees with our maths…I will be watching the budget very carefully next week.

BABY DEATHS New figures ([link removed]) show an incredible 25% reduction in stillbirths and a 30% reduction in neonatal deaths between 2010 and 2019. This won’t get the attention it deserves at the moment, but just think what it means - thousands of families spared the life-changing agony of losing babies. This is an amazing achievement from NHS maternity staff and extraordinary clinicians and campaigners, and massive progress towards the target to halve stillbirths and neonatal deaths by 2025 which I set three years ago. The possibility of change like this is why I and so many others campaign hard for patient safety (and why I put my name forward to be Chair of the Health Select Committee, which surprised many at the time.) There’s nothing more devastating than an avoidable death, and that’s why the fight to prevent them is so important. My Twitter
thread can be found here ([link removed]) .

A £700 MILLION recovery package ([link removed]) for children and young people has been announced by the government – helping them to catch up on learning lost due to COVID-19 and bringing the total support package up to £1.7 bn. The PM commented: ‘this extensive programme of catch-up funding will equip teachers with the tools and resources they need to support their pupils, and give children the opportunities they deserve to learn and fulfil their potential.’ Tomorrow I have a roundtable with The Farnham Schools Confederation to discuss this further.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

SAFER SURREY At the election Boris promised 20,000 more police officers and I promised to make sure Surrey got our share. Progress has been surprisingly fast (partly thanks to changes already planned by our Police and Crime Commissioner) but this is the rather encouraging state of play: Waverley police now has 21 officers and staff working on the safer neighbourhood team ([link removed]) which in turn works closely with the Surrey-wide 24/7 response team. Compared to 2018, we have four Police Constables (up from two), two Youth Engagement officers (up from one) and a continuing 11 PCSOs. A new dedicated rural crime police community support officer has also been appointed.

WAVERLEY COUNCIL’S garden waste service will recommence from 1 March following an improvement in staffing levels. Further information on this service is available here ([link removed]) .

LOCAL HEROES Today’s South West Surrey Hero is the space2grow team, who have been supporting the local community in Farnham throughout the pandemic. The team has been running numerous events, including a cooking club, parenting puzzle courses, and gardening groups. Great work!

See my list of local groups working to support vulnerable residents here ([link removed]) .

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

UNEMPLOYMENT STATS Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that the unemployment rate for the October-December period was 5.1% – the highest in five years but still low compared to many European countries. The data published this week reveals that 1.74m people were out of work. Click here ([link removed]) for more details.

SWS BOUNCEBACK featured small business today is Magikats Tuition Centres ([link removed]) , a small franchise with its origins, HQ, and flagship centre in Farnham. Magikats ([link removed]) specialise in individual Maths and English support for all ages and abilities built around workshops where students work in small mentor-led groups to build social skills and mental health. To join my SWS Bounceback campaign (and promote your business free of charge), simply email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) with a short summary and a picture and I will push out the good news through my social media pages. Check out my Insta ([link removed]) and Facebook ([link removed]) to view examples.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

MARRIAGE & DNA If you’re unhappy in your marriage, just blame your genetic makeup say scientists at the University of Arkansas. According to the study ([link removed]) , the CD38 gene is linked with ‘increased levels of gratitude.’ My biggest piece of advice would be to get the nationality of your partner right – my wife is Chinese, not Japanese in case anyone was still confused on that one.

NEW MEMBER OF THE HUNT FAMILY We have finally succumbed and become a true Surrey family by getting…a Labrador! Click here for a pic ([link removed]) of our new puppy. We had a very heated rufferendum in the Hunt family to choose her name, anyone want to guess what it was? Pawlite answers only please…answer to be revealed on Monday.

AND FINALLY, click here ([link removed]) to read more about my fall, the operation, and our amazing Royal Surrey NHS staff – it really was a joint effort...

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Promoted by Sean Donovan-Smith on behalf of Jeremy Hunt MP and South West Surrey Conservatives, all at 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6TD.

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