This week we had a visit from Jeremy Hunt Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. His visit was in aid of our “Love Your NHS Campaign”. Both Cllr James Moyies and I thought Valentine’s Day would be the perfect opportunity to launch this campaign and show our appreciation and respect for what the NHS does locally and across the UK.
The main aim of the campaign is not just to highlight all the good things that come out of the NHS today but to bring positive dialogue to the table during the consultation phase. Both Cllr James Moyies and I are encouraging anyone who hasn’t had their say yet to come along to the next consultation for Rochford and Southend being held at the Cliffs Pavilion on the 7th March 2018.
Aside from helping launch the campaign the Secretary of State took the time out to meet with frontline services and workers and visit the proposed site of the Shoeburyness Health Centre. I was delighted that we had this opportunity to demonstrate to the Secretary of State all the great things that are happening locally to increase our focus on the prevention of illness and in developing our locality model.
Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said:
“I’m delighted to return to Southend and hear more about the locally-led plan to treat more people in their own home or nearby, thereby improving care and taking pressure off the hospital. Local health leaders are coming together in partnership, and it’s clear everyone in the system is working hard to deliver an NHS fit for the 21st century. The Love Southend NHS initiative is a great way to remind them all how much we value their dedication.”
This week I also pledged my support to #GiveUpPlasticForLent. The aim of this campaign is to reduce my own consumption of single use plastics and encourage you guys at home to do the same. As a nation we use far too much single use plastic so this year for lent and hopefully for the long run I will stop buying fruit and veg with excess packaging and instead go and buy fruit and vegetables from my local fruit and veg grocers.