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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 144. If you’ve been forwarded this email and find it useful sign up to get your personal copy here. ([link removed]) You can of course unsubscribe at any time.

PANDEMIC STATS As of today, we had a total of 4,667,870 positive cases of COVID-19 with 128,027 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 6,037 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 239 confirmed deaths (revised down by seven by Public Health England in the last week ([link removed]) ), with an estimated 142 active cases in Waverley. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

COVID LATEST The good news is that in Waverley (as in England) 81% of the population have now had at least one dose of a vaccine, but cases are up by 74 in the last seven days. Nationally, 3 in 5 adults have had both jabs ([link removed]) , and we appear to be on course to ease restrictions by 19 July. I remain reasonably optimistic as in addition to the successful vaccination roll-out, only around 1% of hospital beds are currently filled by coronavirus patients. Double-vaccinated Brits could be permitted to go abroad and avoid quarantine ([link removed]) although Chancellor Merkel could scupper that if she succeeds in getting a Europe-wide quarantine requirement for UK visitors as Germany and Italy currently do. The issue we have is that if Europe’s Delta wave happens about a month after ours that will be…August, precisely when most people would want to go on holiday.

SOCIAL CARE DELAY Following a tragic year for care homes, should we worry that Monday’s big social care meeting between the Prime Minister, Chancellor, and Health Secretary was postponed? My question on that to Minister Nadine Dorries ([link removed]) at the Health Select Committee. I remain frustrated by the slow pace and lack of progress but do know the issue is ‘live’ at the highest levels of government. I also asked Minister Helen Whately yesterday whether it is against the founding principles of the NHS to discriminate against people with dementia in the way our system currently does - video here ([link removed]) . I welcome her willingness to address these issues as part of the upcoming social reforms, especially as at present an extraordinary 17,000 people have to sell their homes every year to pay for their care.

LONG COVID Over one in three COVID-19 patients have long COVID ([link removed]) according to researchers from Imperial College London meaning it has affected 2 million people. The React-2 study reveals that two million people with the disease have had symptoms for over 12 weeks, underscoring the importance of understanding the longer-term health consequences. Sadly, the UK’s longest COVID sufferer died last Friday after a battle that lasted over a year – heart-breaking video here ([link removed]) .

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

EATING DISORDERS On Tuesday the Health and Social Select Committee held its last session of our inquiry into children and young people’s mental health. Coincidentally (or not) this week the government announced welcome new funding to help young people with eating disorders ([link removed]) . But how do we encourage girls and boys to come forward earlier rather than hide such issues - often for a year or more - even from their families? Video here ([link removed]) featuring responses from Minister Nadine Dorries and Tim Kendall, who is the National Clinical Director for Mental Health. I also asked the Minister whether the majority of suicides are preventable and if should we aim for zero suicides. Nadine’s honest reply here ([link removed]) .

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

ROYAL SURREY is feeling the strain according to Louise Stead, the CEO who I spoke to this morning. Although they only have 2 COVID-19 patients right now there has been a big increase in people coming to A & E - 240 a day compared to 210 a day pre-COVID. She thinks some of it may be due to people struggling to get face to face appointments with their GP, something former County Councillor Victoria Young told me she had also experienced. I also talked to her about the launch of my campaign to upgrade our local cancer facilities which will be in September, watch this space.

POLICING UPDATE I spoke yesterday to Borough Commander Sam Adcock about the figures I reported on Monday, namely the 25% increase in reported crimes in May compared to April. She said this kind of variation in monthly figures is quite normal but there were indeed 211 more incidents overall. Some of this was to be expected with pubs opening and lockdown easing, but a growing issue is what is now called 'hate crime.' This was not racist or homophobic attacks (of which there were none thankfully) but neighbour disputes and road rage. There are no particular hotspots or repeat offenders. I will continue to monitor closely but Sgt Claire Sutherland, who is responsible for these issues in Waverley, asks us all to show one another levels of civility despite the frustrations of lockdown and the pandemic. Sam Adcock also said progress is being made on the issues around Frensham Pond, where they are looking at long-term solutions to parking and traffic management following a meeting with local
partners including Surrey County Council.

BANK CLOSURE Residents have rightly raised concerns about the announcement that Haslemere’s Lloyds Bank is to close permanently this autumn ([link removed]) . I have therefore written to Patrick Leavey, the Group Public Affairs Manager at Lloyds Banking Group to enquire about the reasoning behind the closure, when it is closing and why it was not announced to Haslemere residents in the first instance. It is really bad news - not least speaking as a Lloyds customer since the age of 16! I will keep you updated.

CONSERVATION & CLIMATE CHANGE Farnham constituents have questioned Tilford Parish Council’s approach to conservation and so I have written to Kelvin Mills, Head of Commercial Services (his role includes matters to do with parks & countryside) at Waverley Borough Council. Specifically, I have asked Kelvin to comment on why certain works were scheduled at this particular time and to enquire about what processes they have in place to assess any potential impact on wildlife, before works such as these. In other green news, it was World Rainforest Day on Tuesday ([link removed]) . It is tremendously important to protect the world’s rainforests – check out the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan here ([link removed]) , which sets out ambitions to support and protect the world’s forests, supporting sustainable agriculture and zero-deforestation supply chains. Check out my Herald article
([link removed]) which also mentions climate change in the context of foreign policy.

WORKPLACE WELLBEING Surrey County Council is hosting an event titled, ‘Good Mental Health is good business sense’. Join the Council and mental health experts to discuss the impact poor staff mental health has on business, and how to address it on Wednesday 30 June from 10am to 1pm. Link here ([link removed]) .

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

BORROWING BILLIONS Public sector borrowing reached £24.3 billion this May ([link removed]) – the second-highest May figure since records began in the 90s, according to new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. Nevertheless, £19.4 billion less was borrowed compared to the same point last year. Recovering slowly but surely but a big hangover still to come.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

GREAT GREAT GREAT NEWS Mary Marshall from Edinburgh has become Scotland’s only great-great-great-grandmother. Not many families can claim to have six generations alive at the same time ([link removed]) - let’s call it the nanny state…
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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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