Visit to Darent Valley Hospital

I regularly visit Darent Valley Hospital to gain a better understanding of the challenges facing them and to chat with staff about issues like Winter preparation.

This month, I met with their CEO and we discussed various issues including the potential hyper-acute stroke unit and the Urgent Treatment Centre consultation.

I also met with two of the Sisters who oversee the Nightingale Project which is a programme designed to improve standards and patient experience across hospital wards.

I was also pleased to meet with the Hospital at Home Team, who gave me an insight into their work which aims to provide short term acute medical care (about 1-5 days) within the homes of patients.  This can include residential and nursing homes.

The sort of treatment that can be offered at home includes oxygen therapy and intravenous antibiotics.  The Hospital at Home Team (HAHT) is able to monitor the vital signs of patients remotely and receives an auto-alert if there is an issue.  It looks after between 60-100 patients a month at home.  The team also works with GPs and refers patients to district nurses, community matrons, physiotherapists and occupational therapists when required for further care after patients are discharged from the HAHT.

Lastly, I met with Professor Sriprasad from the Surgical Team and had a tour of the Surgical Admission Lounge, together with Rowan and Cherry wards.

Europa Weightlifting Club

It was a pleasure to be invited to visit the Europa Weightlifting Club which is located on Temple Hill.

The club was founded in 2002 and its athletes have represented Great Britain at the London Olympic Games, together with many World and European Championships.  There are high hopes that the club will be represented at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.
 
Europa Weightlifting Club was previously based in Crayford but moved to larger premises on Temple Hill in February 2019.  The Club has ambitious plans to fully refurbish the gym, along with the Temple Hill Youth Centre with which it shares the space. It then plans to offer space for classes such as yoga, pilates, Zumba, as well as space for potential church groups and mother and baby groups.
 
On visiting Europa Weightlifting Club, I found it to be a very well-run, well-organised asset to the local community.  I hope the club is able to fully realise its plans for refurbishment and I have given it my full support.

News from Westminster

Mental Health support and awareness tool

Earlier in October, Public Health England and the NHS joined forces to launch a new mental health support and awareness tool.

The 'Every Mind Matters' website offers simple steps to help people look after their mental health, improve their mental well-being and support people around them.

The easy-to-use website has guidance about some mental health issues including stress, anxiety, low mood and sleeping problems, with simple tips on how to help people.

Public Health England say that around 80% of people have experienced the early signs of poor mental health with many waiting months before seeking help.

We know that around a quarter of adults and one in ten children will experience a mental health illness at some point.  This is an issue that we haven't, as a country, every properly tackled, so I welcome this new initiative.

Brexit

As you can imagine, the situation surrounding this issue changes on a frequent basis so anything I write can be out-of-date very quickly.  One thing has not changed and that is my belief the UK should leave the EU and take back the sovereignty we have lost over the past forty years.  I will continue to vote in every way I can to deliver Brexit and act on the instruction we were given by the British people in 2016.

I have found people in Dartford just want us to get on with the job of delivering Brexit.  Whether they voted leave or remain, they are tired of the issue and want us to implement Brexit and concentrate on other important matters.

The law now forces the UK to agree a delay to Brexit and ask the EU for an extension of our membership.   

Almost two-thirds of Dartfordians voted to leave the EU and many people who voted remain believe we should respect the outcome of the referendum.  I wholeheartedly agree.

Policing of Extinction Rebellion protests

During a Business of the House debate, I asked the Leader of the House, Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg, for a debate to be scheduled as soon as possible to discuss the policing of the Extinction Rebellion Protests.

I asked for an opportunity to be given to praise the Metropolitan Police and other forces such as Kent Police, who have lent their help too. 

In response, the Leader of the House said:  "I must confess, I agree with my honourable friend.  I spoke to some of the Police Officers who were around during the Extinction Rebellion and they were sometimes getting up at 2 o'clock in the morning and then on duty for 12 or 14 hour shifts to ensure that we were kept safe.  We should be enormously grateful to the police service of this country."

I raised this debate in the House of Commons as I have witnessed first-hand the disruption that Extinction Rebellion has caused over the last few weeks.  The Metropolitan Police, assisted by forces from across the country, have dealt with the protesters in a professional and measured way.  I believe it is only right that MPs are given the opportunity to praise the actions of the Police particularly given the recent criticism of their approach by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

The recent scenes from Canning Town station show the increasing level of frustration that hard-working people have over the actions of these protesters.  I support the right of people to protest and agree that we should be doing more to protect the environment but that does not give them the right to stop others from getting to work.

A link to my question can be found below by clicking on the photo.

Queen's Speech

The Government's plans for the next Parliament were outlined by the Queen in her speech in the House of Lords on 14th October.

This speech set out very clearly the Government's intention to leave the European Union, as well as the domestic agenda we want to concentrate on thereafter.

Whilst we are yet to see what key parts of these bills come into law, it is very clear the Government wants to concentrate on law and order, schools, hospitals and the environment.

Following Her Majesty's speech, the Prime Minister said "We aim to create a new age of opportunity for the whole country."  I welcome this sentiment and I believe that bringing in measures to support the NHS is a top priority.  I also welcome reforms to further improvements to adult social care and mental health care.

Plans for new sentencing laws for the most serious offenders, have also been outlined.  This will instil more honesty in sentencing and stop the most violent offenders being released too early.

I welcome the Government's pledge to ensure our young people have access to the highest quality education and looking to the future generations, it is good to see that tackling key environmental issues, including air pollution, will be a priority.

Among the many other issues outlined, there will be a bill to end free movement as well as new legislation for farming, fisheries and trade.