GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 149. If you’ve been forwarded this email and find it useful sign up to get your personal copy here. You can of course unsubscribe at any time.
COVID STATS As of today, we had a total of 5,233,207 positive cases of COVID-19 with 128,530 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 6,689confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 239 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 369 active cases in Waverley. Concerningly there’s been a flurry of positive cases in Farncombe, Witley, and Milford with pubs, cafes, and shops having to close temporarily. In other news, nationally two-thirds of adults have now had both jabs - terrific progress - and in the last seven days in the UK: coronavirus cases ⬆️27.4%, hospital admissions ⬆️53.2%, and, deaths ⬆️42.2%. My Herald article this week explores whether the government is right or wrong to proceed with the easing of restrictions, with the latest figures in mind. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.
TRAVEL UPDATE From Monday, Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca, will be put back on the amber list, whilst Bulgaria and Hong Kong will be added to the green travel list. Importantly, people who are double-jabbed, as well as under 18s, will not have to isolate on arrival from amber countries from next week and so the change will mainly affect younger adults yet to receive both doses. Let’s not forget the agony these constant changes are causing for local travel businesses: yesterday I spoke to Chris McIntyre who runs Expert Africa, a specialist travel business, about the impact of not knowing when people will be able to book holidays in Africa and some new ATOL regulations about which I am writing to Grant Shapps.
PRESSING PRIORITIES The Health Secretary has revealed his three big priorities, which are getting us out of the pandemic, clearing the backlog of non-COVID services and…social care. Good to hear and I look forward to the upcoming social care reforms. Indeed, no reform of the NHS will succeed without tackling the crisis in social care – my question to Sajid here, with reference to people with learning disabilities and care workers being paid the minimum wage, including for time taken to travel between appointments. Sajid’s priorities here.
HEALTH BILL Yesterday MPs debated the new health and care bill which has important reforms but disappointingly contains nothing about the biggest crisis facing the NHS today - staff shortages. Watch my speech from yesterday in the Commons here. I urged the Health Secretary to look at the simple and sensible solution proposed by the Health Foundation and all the Royal Colleges, which is to legislate for Health Education England to have a statutory responsibility to publish annual independent workforce projections across the health and care system for the next five, 10, 15, and 20 years. Frontline workers are exhausted, but we can at least give them the reassurance that there is a long-term plan in place.
SEOUL SWEAT Gyms in South Korea will not play music with higher than 120 beats per minute to help combat the rising COVID-19 infection rates. The new measure will prevent gyms from having to close, but predictably the rule has been ridiculed and labelled as unrealistic to maintain. So it isn’t just our government getting stick on the details of these pandemic rules…
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
AUTISM & LEARNING DISABILITIES This week my Health and Social Care Select Committee published its report on the treatment of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in the NHS. It’s unacceptable that 2,000 people with learning disabilities and/or autism are currently in locked inpatient units across the country despite repeated attempts to find more humane community care. The treatment of some of these patients really shames a civilised society and is a massive human rights issue. Check out my Sky News interview here.
CANCER & CAPITAL On Tuesday the Health Committee held the first session of our new inquiry into cancer services. Click here to watch my question about the Royal Surrey's ambition for a Cancer Institute to NHS National Cancer Director Dame Cally Palmer - is it just the Royal Surrey or do other places also struggle to get permission to spend capital they already have? Sounds to me like diplomatically Dame Cally is saying yes…
INTERNATIONAL AID In a surprise move the government held a vote on their international aid cuts earlier in the week. Unfortunately, despite voting against it along with 24 of my colleagues, the cuts are now going ahead until two new fiscal rules are met. I was deeply disappointed with this result and will continue to make the case to return to 0.7% of national income. I know many of you (but not all it has to be said) agree.
WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY
VACCINATION CENTRE The leader of Guildford Borough Council, Cllr Joss Bigmore has told me that the Artington Park and Ride site will be used as the next venue for a vaccination centre when G Live goes back to being a theatre. George Abbot School may be used during the transition between the sites, but I will keep you updated with the latest information.
PROSTATE PROJECT Yesterday I spoke to Alf Turner about the Prostate Project which he has taken over running from Colin Stokes who did such a remarkable job for many years. They have a big new ambition to fund a battle bus that will travel around Surrey giving people PSA tests to detect potential prostate cancers. It's a great next step after the triumph of getting a new Urology Centre for the Royal Surrey which I was proud to support when I was Health Secretary. We all wish them every success.
POLICE UPDATE Last month I spoke to Sam Adcock, our Police Borough Commissioner in Waverley about various issues, including the rise in hate crimes in SW Surrey. For your information, here are the latest stats: ASB ⬇️33.8%, but domestic burglary ⬆️1.6%, hate crime ⬆️178.3%, and domestic violence ⬆️19.3%.
See my list of local groups working to support vulnerable residents here.
THE ECONOMY AND JOBS
EMPLOYMENT RATE The labour market is recovering according to new data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today. More specifically, between March and May 2021, employment was 74.8% whilst unemployment was 4.8%. Nonetheless, many workers remain furloughed and the number of payroll employees is 200,000+ below pre-pandemic levels.
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