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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my regular South West Surrey update No. 150. 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 5,433,939 positive cases of COVID-19 with 128,708 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 6,989 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 239 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 509 active cases in Waverley. In the last week in the UK coronavirus cases are up 43.3%, hospital admissions up 39.4%, and deaths also up 39.4%. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

NOT SO FREEDOM DAY if you are Boris today, although sympathy will be limited by his incarceration being at gorgeous Chequers. Even though the lockdown rules have officially ended, the situation facing the NHS is very serious - as I said on Saturday the warning light on the NHS dashboard is flashing red, not amber. COVID hospital patients are now doubling every two weeks which means we are heading for 10,000 COVID hospital patients by the end of August, which is about 20 times higher than this time last year when it was around 500. We are currently around 50k daily infections and will almost certainly breach the previous 68k record in the next few weeks - what no one knows is how quickly it will come down. Previous peaks have been curtailed by lockdowns but this time we have the vaccines…so it is genuinely impossible to call. There is therefore (sorry to be the bearer of bad news) a real possibility that lockdown restrictions will be reimposed as I said on the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme
([link removed]) on Saturday (1:15:34). The most pressing thing to sort is the pingarama nightmare of the NHS COVID app - as I told Nadhim Zahawi today in the House ([link removed]) surely it is time to scrap the 10-day isolation rule in favour of isolation only until you get a negative PCR test. We all wish Sajid Javid a speedy recovery after he tested positive for coronavirus - a pretty tough introduction to his new role.

VACCINE UPDATE In better news, we now have a walk-in clinic at Farnham Hospital ([link removed]) as of last weekend for the first doses for all over 18s. Following a request from a Farnham resident, I have asked Ed Wernick (clinical lead for the Farnham vaccination sites) if there is a similar clinic planned for second doses for those over 40. More generally, 78,522 people in South West Surrey have now been inoculated with at least one dose and around 61,255 have had the second. Nationally, 82,266,702 vaccinations have been administered, including 35,970,849 second doses – superb progress. In the South East, 81% of people aged 18+ have received their first dose, and 63% are double jabbed. More concerningly, over a third of Londoners remain unvaccinated – regional data here ([link removed]) .

BRAIN FOG There is accumulating evidence that COVID-19 causes ‘brain fog’ and other neurological problems. The virus could block blood flow, attack brain cells directly, and/or cause immune malfunction. More information on this worrying aspect of Long COVID 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

PATIENT SAFETY As Health Secretary, my big priority was reducing the high levels of avoidable harm and death in modern healthcare systems. When patients are harmed the most important thing is to make sure lessons are learned for the future - but all too often that doesn't happen: my speech in the First Do No Harm debate ([link removed]) with full subtitles. I continue to campaign actively on this topic - click here ([link removed]) to read more about my Patient Safety Watch charity which carries research into the levels of preventable harm in healthcare systems across the country. You can also sign up to my weekly patient safety email ([link removed]) here (which goes out on a Wednesday so as not to clash with my constituency ones).

WESTMINSTER WEEK It was another busy and productive week in parliament when it comes to local issues, including mentioning the Royal Surrey’s need for a Cancer Institute, with both the Health Secretary and NHS England National Cancer Director. My weekly round-up here ([link removed]) .

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

HASLEMERE STATION After reading a post from a Haslemere resident, I wrote to Surrey’s Police & Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, regarding alleged number plate theft from Haslemere Train Station ([link removed]) . I visited the site on Friday and will report back as soon as I hear back from Lisa.

RECYCLING CENTRE I was also sorry to hear that some residents have travelled to the Bourne Mill Recycling Centre ([link removed]) only to find the gates closed. I know the opening hours for the Centre were reduced by Surrey County Council back in 2016 but a 4 pm closing time really is too early. I actually went there at exactly 4 pm on Friday to see for myself and have written to Katie Stewart (Environment, Infrastructure and Transport lead) at SCC to see they would consider another consultation on this matter.

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

GREEN JOBS A report published by the Independent Green Jobs Taskforce highlights that every job across the country has the potential to be green. Click here ([link removed]) to read the recommendations on how the government can work together with other sectors to deliver green jobs for the future. Of course, Boris Johnson’s Ten Point Plan ([link removed]) is already predicted to support and create 250,000 green jobs in the UK by 2030.

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

TURTLE DISASTER Maxi the tortoise has been found after missing for an entire year. Maxi walked half a mile at a speed of 0.00007 mph - click here ([link removed]) to view his escape route. I’m sure the owner is shellebrating his return (sorry, slow news day…).
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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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South West Surrey Conservative Association . 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road . Hindhead . Surrey, GU26 6TD . United Kingdom