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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 148. I’m truly proud of our England heroes ([link removed]) …despite the most emotional Sunday night I think I have ever had. We lost the battle but not the war - and played better as a team than I ever remember (speaking of course as a totally unqualified armchair general) so I came away with great hope that English football may just have turned a corner. Now onto more local stuff, and as ever 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 5,121,245 positive cases of COVID-19 with 128,425 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 6,529 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 239 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 169 active cases in Waverley. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

FREEDOM…FINALLY! The Prime Minister has announced that all restrictions will be lifted on 19 July ([link removed]) . There will be no limits on social contact and face masks will no longer be mandatory, although I’m sure many will continue to wear them in certain situations (and may be required to, for example in rush hours). With infections still high, this is a calculated gamble from Number 10 that now is the time to learn to 'live with' the virus.’ As I have said before this is a genuinely difficult call: two jabs have now been offered to all over 40s who accounted 99% of fatalities but hospital admissions are rising faster than modelling predicted. Like Prof Neil Ferguson I do think the approach being taken is justifiable - but that we should be prepared to change our minds if the facts on the ground do. You can listen to me talk to Sarah Montague on World at One ([link removed])
about these issues (at 13.25). My question today to Sajid Javid on his willingness to change direction if necessary here ([link removed]) .

VACCINE LATEST 77,668 people in South West Surrey have now been inoculated with at least one dose and around 59,659 have had the second. Nationally, over 80m doses have now been administered ([link removed]) – a brilliant achievement. The Health Secretary has also confirmed that from July 19 passengers arriving in the UK from amber list countries who have been fully vaccinated will no longer be required to quarantine. Nevertheless, a pre-departure test plus a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival will still be necessary - and some countries like Italy (did I mention them?) still require 5 days of quarantine for anyone visiting from the UK. Double-jabbed people will not have to isolate from 16 August ([link removed]) if they are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 - too late for my dear wife who has just ended her isolation after being ‘pinged’. In other news, the latest R
range for England is 1.2 to 1.5 ([link removed].) , and in the last week in the UK: coronavirus cases ⬆️27.3%, hospital admissions ⬆️56.6%, and, deaths ⬆️66.4%.

CANCER & COVID Last year 40,000 fewer people started cancer treatment due to the pandemic, which will sadly lead to many avoidable deaths. I therefore asked the Health Secretary whether there will be capital investment in cancer services to deal with the COVID backlog, in particular, to allow the Royal Surrey to build a new cancer institute. My question and Sajid’s mildly encouraging response here ([link removed]) .

IT’S IN YOUR DNA Check out this study ([link removed]) which explains how your genetics may determine your COVID-19 fate. Scientists have found 13 genetic variants associated with an increased risk of infection or a greater chance of becoming severely ill and hospitalised. For example, a variant in a gene called FOXP4 is linked with severe manifestations of COVID-19 and so moving forward, researchers need to develop a drug that inhibits FOXP4’s activity.

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

MATERNITY SAFETY Last week my Health Committee published its report on the safety of maternity services, rating services in England as ‘requires improvement’ overall. When it comes to maternity services, there’s much the NHS gets right, including an impressive 30% fall in the baby death rate over the last decade. But still, if we had the maternity safety rates of Sweden, a thousand more babies would live every year. Our hard-hitting report looks at exactly what needs to change if we are to match the best in the world: stopping lawyers from getting involved too early in the process so that lessons can be learned, making sure we have the right staffing levels and making sure we have the right support for higher-risk mothers, including those from minority ethnic backgrounds. Read the full report here ([link removed]) and watch the summary clip here ([link removed]) .

MEDICINE & MEDICAL DEVICES Also last week I debated the ‘First Do No Harm’ report ([link removed]) which was published last year (after I commissioned it as Health Secretary) and which highlights the most terrible oversight of women’s medicine and medical devices. Until we implement the recommendations in the report, there will not be just a lack of justice, but also a risk of repeat. This time, it was sodium valproate, Primodos, and vaginal mesh - but next time it will be different medicines and devices. I reminded my colleagues that 400 babies are born every year to women on valproate and half of those babies are harmed and also expressed my concern with the ambition to halve the number of pregnant women on valproate by 2023, when that would mean that 100 babies will continue to be born harmed every year. There can be no other proper ambition than to eliminate the number of babies born harmed by valproate and we need a plan to do that. Watch
the highlights from my speech towards the end of this video ([link removed]) and view the full speech here ([link removed]) (16:03:10).

WEEK IN WESTMINSTER Altogether, it's been a busy week in Westminster, with questions to Sajid Javid about Test and Trace and the urgent need for a new Cancer Institute at the Royal Surrey. Two major reports were also published/debated. Video highlights here ([link removed]) .

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

PLASTIC RECYCLING A number of you have written in asking whether we should commit to halving the use of single use plastics by 2025. I agree that we need to do more to reduce our consumption of this type of plastic and recycle more of it where we can. The government actually already has an ambition to ensure that all plastic on the market is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 which I think is another way to achieve the same end so I intend to hold them to that target and have therefore written to the Environment Secretary asking him for an update on measures such as the Deposit Return Scheme which incentivise recycling. I also think there is more we can do locally so have written to Waverley Borough Council’s Head of Environmental Services to find out how they are progressing on their own recycling targets.

TESCO GRANTS Rebecca Lass, the Government Relations Executive at Tesco has informed me that Tesco’s local charitable grants scheme is now open for applications from local charities and community groups in South West Surrey. The grants are up to £1,500. If you would like to apply or simply find out more, please click here ([link removed]) .

HOPPA Over the past 16 months, Hoppa has experienced a few bumps in the road but resilience and a willingness to adapt has paid off. Waverley’s only community transport provider has emerged from the pandemic stronger and even more determined to live up to its reputation of being a customer lifeline. Hoppa takes people shopping, to medical appointments, and to meet friends. It transports children with special educational needs to school and Hospital to Home is saving the NHS thousands. I met their CEO in Hindhead last week for an update. Learn more here ([link removed]) .

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

CULTURE RECOVERY FUND Last week marked exactly one year since the government announced the Culture Recovery Fund, which has provided £1.2 billion to over 5,000 organisations to date and protected thousands of jobs. The final round of funding will support the cultural, heritage, and creative sectors – more information here ([link removed]) .

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

SPACE FLIGHT Here ([link removed]) is a video of Sir Richard Branson’s flight to the edge of space in case you need some space (apollogies) from football. Virgin Galactic will begin commercial launches soon, with 600 customers already lined up – including Leonardo DiCaprio. £180,000 for a ticket…

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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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