Pleased to be back home in the constituency after another busy week in Westminster.
In Westminster this week, I welcome the announcement that Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s University Hospital will be two of the new sites included in the expansion of the hugely successful HIV opt-out testing programme. This programme is expected to save, and improve the quality of, thousands of lives by helping to diagnose those who otherwise might have been unaware that they have the virus.
On the subject of our hospitals in Westminster, last week I was pleased to attend the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Parliamentary Event. As ever, it was great to see Dame Linda Pollard, the Chair of the Trust as well as my Leeds colleagues. Dame Linda spoke very passionately about the Leeds Hospitals Building Programme and the need to start the build without delay, and I have ensured that Government Ministers are aware of the enthusiasm coming from Leeds to lead the charge for the New Hospital Programme.
Elsewhere in Westminster this week, the policy enquiries arriving in my office have been diverse, ranging from puppy smuggling to abortion.
In my Constituency Office this week, casework arriving has been on subjects such as local authority charges, local train stations, provision of local bus services, immigration and asylum applications, issues with local education settings, highways problems, health and wellness providers and speeding to name but a few.
Elsewhere in the patch this week, the Guiseley Christmas Lights was an incredible success and it was wonderful to see so many of you in attendance. We were hugely grateful for the support and thank you once again for all of those who participated.
It is also of course the 1st of December today, which means it is almost Christmas and the end of 2023. Please note that I will be giving my very hardworking staff a break over the festive period, with both my Constituency Office and Westminster Office closing from Saturday 23rd December and reopening on Wednesday 3rd January. If you need urgent assistance during this time, myself and senior members of the team will be available via email.
As ever, if you need any assistance or if you have any concerns you wish to raise with me, please do not hesitate to get in touch.