NATIONAL CARERS’ Week , Network Rail and NHS Blackpool; the three “N’s” covered in Paul Maynard’s ‘Letter from Westminster’ this week. Progress is definately being made on behalf of the area by Paul, and although he describes it as there being no major ‘achievements’ by him as yet, there certainly are encouraging developments for his constituency. Paul also highlights Bowel Cancer in his letter this week.
It has been another busy week that has just flown by. I will probably say that every week. But it is all too easy to publish a list of activities, without actually saying what it is achieving. Whilst it may be a little early to point to concrete achievements, it is important to bear this in mind.
Monday
Travelling down on Monday, I had to get there promptly to do my first ‘constituents tour’ of the Palace. We have a few more coming down in the following weeks, but if you find yourselves in London and want a tour round, do let me know. The remainder of that day was opening all the post and reading all the emails that had built up since I had last been in Westminster on the Thursday.Tuesday
Next day was what I would call an ‘issues’ day. Over lunch there was an opportunity to meet with carers to highlight National Carers Week which is coming up this week. Whilst I don’t especially like photo opportunities for the sake of photo opportunities, I don’t mind them if I also know I am doing something else. I had drawn attention to the needs of carers in my maiden speech, and will be visiting the Carers Centre this coming week – and hope to participate in a future debate on the floor of the House on the issue. A significant proportion of the casework coming in relates to ‘carers issues’ also.Next up was the launch of the National Autistic Society’s campaign to highlight the mental health needs of those with autism – a grey area I had come across at my first surgery. I chatted to some families who had come up who are affected by autism, and got a good understanding of the frustrations they feel, as well as their concerns as their children reach the time when they are due to leave school. I was due to have lunch with the NAS’ parliamentary officer the next day, and we had a discussion in much greater detail, especially about the issues surrounding the period when young people have to go through the transition from child-focused services to adult-focused services. An issue for me to investigate a bit further, I think.
Later on, I went to hear a lecture and discussion about the role of ‘grandparents’ in modern family life organised by Grandparents Plus. I think they were pleased I had made the effort to cross the road to Westminster Central Hall to listen! Grandparents are unsung, unpaid carers in an age when the complexity of family life means an ever greater care burden is out there. How we look after older people without taking their caregiving for granted is just one part of this whole ‘big society’ debate.
Wednesday
The following day I had a coffee with Lynne Faulds Wood – she of Watchdog fame – to discuss her campaign to raise awareness of bowel cancer. I promised I would add a list of the symptoms to watch out for at the end of my weekly letter – so see below! It was also the inaugural meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group meeting – timely, given the interest in the fate of the Windmill in Layton. I’m hoping I can use some of their campaigning nous in this regard!Lastly, I dropped by a Network Rail reception to say hello to some people I had met during the campaign, and promised my continued support for electrification proposals on the line to Preston.
Thursday
The next day was my second appearance in the Chamber – this time asking a question about homelessness in Blackpool, and seeking to establish how the ministers see cross-government working on the issue occurring in practice. One example is to refine the way Rough Sleeper counts are going to be conducted, as estimates now vary considerably. Blackpool has a good record of inter-agency working, which I highlighted, as I think there is a lot we can learn from NHS Blackpool on this. We also heard during the question time with Eric Pickles, the Communities & Local Government Secretary of State, that the deal to purchase the Tower and Winter Gardens was indeed safe, so that was a bonus bit of good news!Thursday seems to be travelling day – either catching up on the correspondence, or catching up on the reading on the train. I had an evening appointment in Lytham, where I was honoured to attend the Thanksgiving Service to celebrate 25 years of Trinity Hospice’s work. A fairer funding deal for hospices, on a per-patient basis, is something I have long fought for – and it was humbling to see so many of the volunteers who do such unsung work at the hospice play a role in the service.
Friday
Friday, as ever, was a constituency day from 9am-7pm! I met with a disability campaigner, NHS Blackpool to discuss a range of issues including how we might work together to try and ensure we get more funding for community sports clubs, a group of hoteliers around and about Gynn Square to listen to some of their concerns, and then finally to meet with Steve Weaver to discuss how we will be able to work together in the future, as well as discuss some of the wider strategic issues in the town.By the end of all that, I was exhausted!
Bowel cancer notes
And here are the promised bowel cancer symptoms …
Change of Bowel Habit – a recent persistent change which lasts for a few weeks without returning to normal:
· going to the loo, or trying to go, several more times than is normal for you
· looser, more diarrhoea-like motions
· especially important if accompanied by bleeding from the bottomRectal Bleeding – which persists without an obvious reason like straining, sore bottom, lumps and itching. Bleeding from the back passage persistently without any of these symptoms should be investigated
Regards, Paul
Paul Maynard MP, Blackpool North and Cleveleys
Another engaging letter from Mr. Maynard, one of many due to be published during his role as MP. You can visit Paul’s official website at www.paulmaynard.co.uk to find out more about what he is currently doing around Blackpool and Westminster during his campaign as MP.
I bet the chat with Steve Weaver was one sided , as Steve Weaver is the most useless and overpaid jobsworth the world has seen,the sooner he goes the better.