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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome back to my South West Surrey update No. 153 from someone who was not waiting by their phone during yesterday’s reshuffle. I am discovering the joys of having a job you cannot be fired from (except of course by the electorate) ... But plenty of other issues to update you on...as ever if you think your neighbours would like to get this email, please forward it on. Anyone cansign up here ([link removed]) to receive them.

PANDEMIC UPDATE As of today, we have had a total of 7,312,683 positive cases of COVID-19 with 134,647 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 9,696 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 242 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 287 active cases in Waverley. In the last week in the UK coronavirus cases are down 18.4%, hospital admissions up 2.5% and deaths down 4.4%. All data is accurate as of 11am this morning.

COVID PLAN A The government has published itsautumn and winter plan ([link removed]) to tackle Covid and the main element is thevaccine booster programme ([link removed]) which I and many others have been calling for. ([link removed]) This represents our best chance of avoiding further restrictions during the winter months. The test and trace programme, which despite the stick it has got has in fact reduced transmission ([link removed]) according to new modelling. If you want some positive news about the vaccination programme, how about this from the ONS ([link removed]) namely that only 1%
of those who died from COVID between January and July of this year had received two jabs.

BUT WHAT ABOUT PLAN B As we know from the last year or so things can change quickly...and there are 8,500 people in hospital with COVID and rising. SAGE have also warned that hospitalisations couldjump very sharply to between 2-7,000 a day ([link removed]) . So the government is surely wise to hold measures such as mandatory face masks and covid status passports in reserve (however unpopular that may be) as nobody quite knows what will happen. As Sir Patrick Vallance said on Tuesday we should‘go hard and go early’ ([link removed]) if things change - surely the biggest lesson of the last 18 months.

CHILD VACCINATIONS I also think the government made the right call with regards to vaccinations of 12–15-year-olds. As I told theHouse of Commons on Monday night ([link removed]) the direct health benefits of doing may be marginal but the wider health and social benefits to children are significant. The mental health impact of school disruption played a part in the decision, sensibly, but equally wise was the decision not to factor in the health impact on adults - no parent is going to agree to sacrifice a child’s interest for wider societal benefit and scientists and politicians are wise not to try.

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

MUSICAL CHAIRS Now Dominic Raab has moved on neither of my direct successors at Health or the Foreign Office are in post which makes me feel somewhat ancient history. I wish Liz Truss well and I know that amongst many qualities she will be particularly robust in defence of democratic values which is surely one of the big challenges of the century (alongside climate change). Although he had a rough time recently, I also salute the work Dominic Raab did in defence of human rights and the brave decision to offer residency to Hong Kong nationals with British passports.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE LEVY This was passed by the House of Commons on Tuesday.I had a pop at the opposition parties for not supporting it. ([link removed]) I normally avoid doing so on the basis that we have enough Punch and Judy in the Commons but it seem ridiculous to vote against £12 bn a year extra for the NHS and care system when you have been arguing for over a decade the NHS is underfunded. But as I argue in this thread ([link removed]) the government will need to ensure we have enough doctors and nurses to get through the backlog, make sure we don’t end up with a targets culture and Mid Staffs as we did the last time we had big waiting lists and ring fence some of the funding for social care. You can watch my whole speechhere
([link removed]) .

MENTAL HEALTH BACKLOG Ahead of the debate on this levyI asked Sajid Javid ([link removed]) about the funding of mental health services as I was concerned the government had forgotten about the commitment to increasing mental health spending at a faster rate than overall NHS spend.

SELECT COMMITTEE CANCER SESSION In a very emotional session the Select Committee heard on Tuesday from a lady from Hertfordshire called Andrea who lost her daughter Jessica due to repeated missed diagnosis (including no fewer than 20 conversations with her local GP surgery). Her suggestionto reintroduce named GPs ([link removed]) for every patient to help reduce the chances of this happening was well received and herwhole testimony is worth a listen. ([link removed]) Once again issues of workforce featured prominently, this time because of the risk it poses to stopping us meeting ourambitions to diagnose 3/4s of cancers at the early stages by 2028 ([link removed]) .

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

SURGERY STORIES I spoke to a range a local residents in my surgery, two of which may be of wider interest…The first was Cllr Helen Flavell from Thursley Parish Council, who is very concerned at the use of bridleways, pathways and 'BOATs' on the Devil's Punchbowl by motor cyclists and mountain bikers. Of course, everyone has a right to enjoy the stunning scenery, but many are leaving damage by making new paths when they go 'off piste' and she is concerned Surrey is getting a reputation for a lack of enforcement leading to visitors coming from as far away as Cornwall. I am going to organise a site visit for the relevant authorities to address the issue. I also had a fascinating conversation about myRoyal Surrey Cancer & Surgical Innovation Centre campaign ([link removed]) with someone called Alex Booker whose company ([link removed]) has an innovative way to merge GP and
hospital admissions data on patient NHS records and identify who is at the highest risk of developing cancer. GPs are then informed so that action can be taken. It sounds like a very clever way to increase the prevention and early diagnosis of cancer which is the key to improving our national cancer survival rates which still lag countries like Australia and Denmark. Alex is doing for this for just under half of GP practices around the country and offered to do a free pilot for GP patients locally, so I am putting him in touch with Dr Claire Fuller at Surrey Heartlands.

BACK BRITISH FARMING On Friday I met local farmers and the Surrey NFU ([link removed]) , as it happened at Burgate Farm just over the hill from where I live in Hambledon. Issues discussed included rural broadband (getting better but still not solved, and essential for farmers who sell their produce online) to the Farming Rules for Water scheme which will stop manure being used in the autumn. The intention is to improve water quality but the effect on farmers who have to plant in the autumn is devastating. We also talked about rewilding schemes and the importance of making sure the grants that replace the CAP post Brexit don't all go to wealthy landowners (as a lot of the CAP ironically did). Finally, a good discussion on trade deals. I am a believer in free trade, but we need to make sure any changes caused by new trade deals allow businesses to transition to new business models rather than tumble over a cliff edge.

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS For a small town Godalming has a big history - from General James Oglethorpe, founder of the state of Georgia, to Jack Philipps the signalman on the Titanic, to being the first place in the world to have public electricity, including street lighting, back in 1881. So not surprising it has a thriving museum ([link removed]) that celebrated its centenary with a wonderful lunch last weekend...congrats to all the Trustees for organising it, and particularly to Alan and Caroline Bott for hosting it. Here's to another century of recording our proud history!

REMINDER There’s still time to book tickets ([link removed]) for my cancer campaign ([link removed]) launch today, 6.00pm - 7.30pm. I am officially launching the campaign to raise money for a new Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre ([link removed]) at the Royal Surrey to help them deal with the post-pandemic cancer backlog and transform its cancer and surgical services for the future. The new Centre will both improve the cancer treatment available locally and also support the Royal Surrey in its ambition to become the pre-eminent cancer hub in the South East. Joining me at the launch will be senior speakers from Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust,
([link removed]) Surrey Heartlands CCG ([link removed]) and Haslemere GP Surgery. ([link removed]) The socially distanced event will be held in Haslemere Hall and tickets are available via the link above (with a 50p booking fee for the hall). If you would prefer to attend remotely via Zoom, please pre preregister ([link removed]) . For more information, see my article ([link removed]) in The Farnham Herald.

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

THE ECONOMY AND JOBS

1 MILLION AND COUNTING The number ofjob vacancies rose to over 1 million ([link removed]) and to the highest since records began in 2001 the ONS announced this week. Interestingly the same survey also found that over a million people are still on furlough. So, the big question is whether the chronic staff shortages in pubs and restaurants will start to ease as it unwinds at the end of this month, answers on a postcard please.

AND FINALLY No one expected the Prime Minister, Chris Whitty and Laura Kuenssberg to all end up in a row with Nicki Minaj but that’s what happened this week. I must admit much like Boris I’d never heard of her but here she is making the most of the spat ([link removed]) .

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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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