A very warm welcome to the latest edition of Denton and Reddish weekly news. On Monday, I unfortunately tested positive for COVID-19, so am self isolating at the moment. A reminder that COVID hasn't gone anywhere, and that we should all be keeping as safe as possible especially as we approach the winter months.
My self-isolation, however, hasn't stopped me from taking nominations for my Local Business Awards!
If you want to nominate a business and get involved, fill in the online form here.
Finally, you will have noticed that last week there wasn't a newsletter. This was due to the tragic murder of Sir David Amess. You can read my full tribute to David at the bottom of this newsletter, and my thoughts and prayers remain with his family and friends. |
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Gwynne backs Anthony Nolan campaign to stop patients being left behind
Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has backed a recent campaign launched by Anthony Nolan calling on the UK Government to create a dedicated lead for immunocompromised people.
A cross-party letter – signed by Gwynne and over 11 charitable organisations – was sent to the Secretary of State for Health and Social care last Thursday.
It highlights the fact that 13.1% of people who died from COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated were immunocompromised, and that there remains ‘a real and significant risk to some immunocompromised people, including blood cancer and stem cell transplant patients.’
The letter adds that ‘with key government support schemes now closed, immunocompromised people have been left without tailored guidance or support to keep them safe.’ As a result, the campaign is calling for a dedicated government lead for immunocompromised people, a role that would ideally be served ‘by a single named and dedicated person, with the specific remit to co-ordinate and plan guidance and support for people who are immunocompromised across all nations of the UK.
The campaign follows on from the Government’s recent acknowledgment that winter will create new challenges in managing COVID-19 cases.
Gwynne, who recently signed an Early Day Motion supporting the work of Anthony Nolan during Blood Cancer Awareness Month, said:
‘This is a really important campaign, and it makes perfect sense to have a dedicated lead for immunocompromised people so that they have the support and guidance they need.
Even though we have returned to something resembling normality, COVID hasn’t gone anywhere, and it’s really important that we still have the protections and support in place for those at risk.
I’m proud to be backing this campaign, and hope that the Secretary of State listens to the concerns of cross-party politicians, charities and exports, and implements these recommendations’
To find out more about the work of Anthony Nolan visit https://www.anthonynolan.org/
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Gwynne launches annual Local Business Awards
Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has opened nominations for his 2021 Local Business Awards.
Gwynne’s annual competition, which has been running for several years, encourages constituents to nominate their favourite local businesses from across the constituency.
Last year, over 4,100 nominations were received for over 200 local businesses across Audenshaw, Denton, Dukinfield, Reddish and the Heatons. Winners were announced for each of the 7 wards that make up the constituency, as well as one overall winner.
Gwynne will announce the winners on Small Business Saturday, which this year falls on the 4th of December.
Commenting on the return of the awards, Andrew Gwynne said:
“Over the last year, businesses have had to adapt incredibly quickly in really difficult circumstances. Now that restrictions have been lifted, and we are returning to something that resembles normality, it is more important than ever that we support our local businesses and the contribution they make to our communities.
“I love running these awards, you get to meet some fantastic people and recognise brilliant local businesses.
I would encourage all residents from across Audenshaw, Denton, Dukinfield, Reddish and the Heatons to get involved and nominate their favourite businesses on my website.
You can nominate your favourite local businesses on Andrew Gwynne’s website: www.andrewgwynne.co.uk/LBA
All nominees need to be in the Denton and Reddish constituency. If you are unsure if this is the case, please enter the business’s postcode here.
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Gwynne encourages residents to join defibrillator network
Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, is today joining leading charities and health organisations and urging defibrillator owners across Denton and Reddish to register their devices on a new national database, called The Circuit, which could help save thousands of lives from cardiac arrests in the coming years.
There are more than 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK, but less than one in ten people survive. Every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by up to 10 per cent, but immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF), Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) St John Ambulance and Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), warn that the UK’s low survival rate is likely to be in part because public access defibrillators are used in less than one in 10 out of hospital cardiac arrests. This is often because 999 call handlers aren’t always aware that a defibrillator is available nearby because the ambulance service hasn’t been told about it. If they don’t know it is there, they can’t direct someone at the scene to retrieve it while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
To help save more lives, the BHF, RCUK, St John Ambulance and AACE are urging people who look after defibrillators across Denton and Reddish in places such as offices, communities, shopping centres and leisure centres, as well as in public places, to register them on a pioneering database called The Circuit: The national defibrillator network.
While the 14 ambulance services have previously had their own regional databases, The Circuit will eventually replace these with a new national database that lets the ambulance services see defibrillators across the UK once it has been rolled out. This will allow them to direct people to the nearest defibrillator when somebody is having a cardiac arrest, wherever they are.
The Circuit, which is already live in 12 of the 14 ambulance service regions across the UK and will become nationwide soon, could help to save thousands of lives – but it is vital that as many defibrillators as possible are registered on the database for it to work effectively.
Those who own and maintain defibrillators, also called defibrillator guardians, can still register their devices in areas that are not yet live on The Circuit, ready for when their ambulance services come online.
It is estimated that there are tens of thousands of defibrillators which are still to be registered on the new system. To make sure opportunities to save lives aren’t being missed, the organisations are aiming to see 70,000 additional defibrillators unknown to The Circuit registered by the end of the year.
Guardians can register their device on by visiting https://www.thecircuit.uk/
Commenting on the scheme, Andrew Gwynne said:
“Defibrillators are live-saving pieces of equipment, and it is essential that the ambulance service and responders know where public access defibrillators are, so that they can be used quickly and maximise the chances of survival.
That’s why I’d encourage any defibrillator owners across Denton and Reddish to get in register their devices on The Circuit. You could help save lives.”
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Andrew in the Constituency
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I haven't been able to get out and about this week, thanks to my self-isolation. Here are some local constituency stories from when I could still travel around freely!
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Christmas Card Competition
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📰READ: A big thank you to both the Stockport Express and Tameside Reporter for covering my 2021 Christmas Card Competition. You can read the full pieces here and here. If you have any Christmassy images send them on to |
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📰READ: Another big thanks to the Tameside Reporter for covering the two Citizens Award presentations that recently took place. To read about the award for Paige Thomas click here, and to read about the award to Elizabeth Franks click here. |
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A tribute to Sir David Amess
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Last week, we received the devastating news that Sir David Amess, Member of Parliament for Southend West, had died after being stabbed multiple times at a constituency surgery.
The brutal murder of yet another Member of Parliament, merely doing his job, left me utterly numb.
David was a friend and irrespective of our political differences, he was always very good company, incredibly funny and totally dedicated to his Southend-on-Sea Constituency.
My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and staff. And a reminder of the late Jo Cox, that we all have 'More in Common'. |
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Local author Leanne Brown has started writing a fantastic series of books to promote, help and raise awareness for mental health in children. Leanne wants to bring these books to schools, parents and organisations to help promote mental health in children.
You can find out more, including how to buy the books, on her website.
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It's getting to that time of year where I need to start hunting for a photograph for my 2021 Christmas Card. Over the years, I've featured fantastic photos including:
with 
