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GOOD AFTERNOON and welcome to my South West Surrey update No.162 This week the government brought forward proposals on MPs’ second jobs and I tackled the Prime Minister about Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and NHS staffing issues. As ever if you know anyone who might like to receive this email please forward it on. Anyone can sign up here ([link removed]) to receive them.

WESTMINSTER WHISPERS

NAZANIN ZAGHARI-RATCLIFFE’s husband Richard Ratcliffe ended his hunger strike this week after 21 days and so it was only right that the House of Commons debated Nazanin’s continued imprisonment. I spoke in the debate ([link removed]) arguing that we should pay the money we owe Iran by whatever means necessary and get Nazanin home - it is a debt not a ransom. I also then got to put these points directly to the Prime Minister ([link removed]) who was questioned by the Liaison Committee. For the other point of view read this fair-minded article by Jake Wallis Simons from Tuesday’s Telegraph ([link removed]) but I think the consensus in Westminster is that this money should be repaid however uncomfortable it makes us all feel. Thanks for your many emails on this. I don’t
want to be over-optimistic but I do feel we are nearing the end of this horrible saga.

HEALTH AND CARE BILL The Health and Care Bill returns to the House of Commons for its next stage of debate and ahead of that I have tabled a couple of amendments to improve it. My first one seeks to ensure that the new ‘Integrated Care Systems’ that will run the NHS are assessed on the quality and safety of the care they provide. This may sound arcane but the scars of Mid Staffs have taught me that it is really important we measure NHS bodies transparently on things that matter to patients (how good the care is) and not simply internal NHS England targets. I like the Ofsted system for schools which I introduced for hospitals, care homes and surgeries so I hope we get something similar for the new bodies. My second amendment 10 ([link removed]) tries to tackle doctor shortages by requiring the Secretary of State to publish independently verified workforce projections and needs for the next 5, 10, and 15 years. This
will mean we will know if we are recruiting enough doctors, nurses and other staff. It is supported by 6 Select Committee chairs, the Labour, SNP and Lib Dem frontbenches plus 20 or so of other MPs. Yesterday Boris said he would consider it ([link removed]) but I am not currently getting those vibes from the rest of the government.

GP CRISIS I know some of you are struggling to get in person appointments with your GPs. The truth is there is a broader issue with knackered and demoralized staff which is why my Committee has launched a new inquiry into the future of General Practice. ([link removed]) It really should be the jewel in the NHS crown but things have gone badly wrong and I certainly did not make as much progress in this area as I hoped to when Health Secretary. One thing I want to look at is whether we should go back to patients having their own GP who knows them and their families. This was scrapped in the early 2000s. I tried to bring it back by giving patients a ‘named GP’ but I think it turned into a box-ticking exercise. There is a lot of international evidence that having your own GP makes you less likely to need to go to hospital so this is one of many things we will
consider.

COP LATEST There were mixed feelings as the vital climate change summit ended. Boris was probably right to give it six out of 10. My assessment in the Herald here. ([link removed])

TACKLING SLEAZE has not been the government’s finest hour to say the least. I found myself in the curious position last night of refusing to vote down a Labour motion against second jobs but then supporting the government’s amended version. There are relatively small differences between the two sets of plans and the key thing is to get on with implementing sensible rules that stop abuses of the system. Even though I can’t imagine how any MP really has time for significant outside interests, I don’t actually want to ban second jobs altogether: if we do that we would create a class of professional politicians when I think we need more people with connections to the outside world.

PANDEMIC UPDATE

As of 11 am this morning, we have had a total of 9,675,058 positive cases of COVID-19 with 143,360 confirmed deaths in the UK. There have been 14,384 confirmed cases in Waverley and sadly 247 confirmed deaths, with an estimated 541 active cases in Waverley. In the last week in the UK coronavirus cases are up 15%, hospital admissions down 3.8%% and deaths down 11.7%. For the first time in weeks the ONS infection survey finds that there were fewer people with the virus in the community. There were still over 925,000 ([link removed]) cases representing 1 in 60 people but that is down from 1 in 50 for the previous week’s edition of the survey. We have to continue pressing on with the booster and young people’s vaccines programmes which is why it is good news that 13 million people have now had a booster
([link removed]) and that those in their 40s are now eligible ([link removed]) along with 16-17 year olds who can now get a second dose ([link removed]) -but we are slipping behind other major countries for overall rates of vaccination. The government has rightly decided to take a vaccination rather than restriction led approach to containing the virus but if this is to be effective we need to speed up the decision making around who can get the vaccines something I pressed the Health Secretary on in the House earlier this week ([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). See my list of local groups working to support vulnerable residents here ([link removed]) .

SW SURREY STORIES

999 MELTDOWN Yesterday, I became aware of a very worrying report ([link removed]) that people in Surrey were unable to get through to operators on 999 calls. I contacted Philip Astle, CEO at South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, who told me that the critical incident was declared yesterday morning due to a systems network failure, which knocked out their Crawley Operations Centre and Computer Aided Dispatch system. During this time, they carried out a rehearsed Business Continuity plan for the 999 call answer system and redirected 111 calls to other providers. Following thorough tests to the system, everything was back to normal by 7pm yesterday evening.

SURGERY UPDATE A very powerful discussion today with a Mum from Godalming about the challenges of bringing up an autistic child as a single parent. It became particularly tough at secondary school stage when he exhibited very difficult behaviours and he was ultimately taken away by social services - she now faces Christmas without him. There was just so much love in this mother's voice and she knows the complexity of the situation means there are no easy solutions but of course I will do what I can to resolve anything I can.

POLICE UPDATE Half of Waverley burglary offences target outbuildings and sheds, so Borough Commander Sam Adcock is alerting us to the fact that Surrey Police have seen a recent series of thefts from houses that are under renovation. Tools are being left on site overnight and are being stolen, so please do remember to secure your tools and machinery and register your items on Immobilise ([link removed]) or security mark your property so if the police find it, they can return it to you.

BUSINESS GROWTH CLINICS Don’t forget that next Wednesday (24/11) is the final 1-1 business growth clinic for Waverley businesses that are keen to start up, grow, explore new markets, increase their workforce or develop innovation. To express an interest in taking part in this confidential business growth clinic, you can email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or call 01483 478098. Smaller businesses and start-ups in Waverley can also access free advice and support from Enterprise South ([link removed]) .

BINSCOMBE PUBLIC MEETING A gentle reminder that I’m hosting a public meeting this Friday from 5:30-6:30pm at Broadwater Community Centre to facilitate a group discussion with Surrey Police after being approached by several Binscombe residents about drug dealing locally. Do come along if this is something which has been worrying you as well.

AND FINALLY thank you to Haslemere for hosting me and my son for a very powerful Remembrance Sunday service. Haslemere Mayor Simon Dear gave me the privilege of reading out the names of the fallen from the Second World War and somehow the drizzle added to the sombre dignity of the occasion. We will not forget.

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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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