Last week opened with one of the top decision-makers on health matters visiting our constituency when the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock visited Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske.
The Secretary of State visited to thank local staff for
their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and confirm progress on two major
projects for Cornwall’s main hospital. During his visit, the Secretary of State
confirmed that RCHT’s Oncology Ward and MRI re-Provision programme has now been
approved. He also reiterated that a new
women’s and children’s hospital for RCHT continues to be one of the 40 new
hospitals that the Government is prioritising on delivering.
I have been working hard with RCHT management, local NHS
organisations and colleagues with the Department of Health and Social Care to
bring in these exciting new facilities for our main hospital. There is always
more to do though, and I will continue to work at every level of Government to
ensure this site and the people who work there are given the maximum level of
support.
One of the things that we spoke about during the visit was
the importance of women in Truro and Falmouth sharing their experiences, as
well as their priorities, to help shape the first ever government-led Women’s
Health Strategy, designed to increase the health and wellbeing outcomes of
women in England.
With over 65,000 responses already, there has been an
incredible reaction to the call for evidence. Women of all ages and backgrounds
are being asked to respond in order to capture the varying health issues women
experience over their lives and the significant differences between women and
men in terms of access to services, experience of services and health outcomes.
Early analysis shows women from Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds,
and over-50s are under-represented in sharing their experiences - this
representation is necessary to ensure the strategy works for all women.
I am delighted to see the Government putting women’s voices
at the centre of new Women’s Health Strategy and am pleased to see that
nationally over 65,000 women, their carers, clinicians and organisations have
responded so far to the call for evidence. I encourage all women in Truro and
Falmouth, particularly from the groups who have been under-represented so far,
to respond in order to ensure the call for evidence is fully represented.
The consultation finishes on 13 June and you can access it
via https://tinyurl.com/n2eazmuf
On Friday I visited Falmouth to meet with the Falmouth
Harbour Commissioners. We had a really productive meeting discussing their
plans and discussing how we can future proof the port.
We must play to our strengths in Falmouth so let’s embrace
the water and marine sector. There is no reason why Falmouth cannot be a hub
for clean, green jobs, which is something I have highlighted recently in
Parliament to Ministers and will be following up on shortly with more visits to
promote the port. It was also really informative to take a trip out to see the
work being undertaken to protect and enhance the seagrass in the bay – this is
hugely important both for catching carbon and preserving a beautiful and
diverse natural habitat.
As ever, if you need my assistance with anything then my
team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at
Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698.
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