Over the last few years, there has been a quiet revolution in the NHS. In 2013, NHS England launched the Commissioning through Evaluation (CtE) programme to ensure patients could access innovative treatments whilst evidence on the effectiveness of the treatment was gathered and formally evaluated. And since then, some patients have had access to treatments not previously NHS funded, but deemed worth investigating for potential future NHS inclusion.
From Monday 8th August till Friday 12th August Jo Churchill MP will be touring her constituency of Bury St Edmunds, visiting 44 towns and villages from Horringer to Stowupland and Rickinghall to Bradfield St Clare. The purpose of the tour is for Jo to make herself available to constituents on village greens and in church halls to discuss matters with their Member of Parliament.
Parliament may be in recess for the summer but the work does not stop. For as a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces, I spent three days this week touring the Normandy coast; understanding the events and the stories of UTAH, OMAHA, GOLD, JUNO and SWORD beaches, which make up the D-Day landings.
Leaving Westminster for the summer and driving home last week was for me, a special moment. The weather had finally turned for the better and driving through our lovely towns and villages was a blessing. Bury St Edmunds truly is the jewel in the crown of Suffolk and returning from the capital, after an eventful few weeks in Parliament, I am reminded of just how peaceful and restorative country living is.
On 13th July, Jo Churchill MP attended the parliamentary launch of ‘Time to Take Control of Diabetes’ by Diabetes UK, backing calls for local action to improve the delivery of life-changing education for people with diabetes.
Between the 25th and 27th July, Jo Churchill MP took part in the D-Day memorial tour of Normandy, as hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces.
On Tuesday 19th July, Jo Churchill MP spoke in the second reading debate of the Higher Education and Research Bill in the House of Commons. Brought forward by the Minister for Universities and Science, Jo Johnson MP, the Bill intends to introduce a range of measures including: increasing competition and choice within the higher education sector, raising standards and, through universities and higher education, strengthening the UK research and innovation.
On Tuesday 19th July it was announced by Post Office Limited, that the closure of Bury St Edmunds Crown Post Office and the franchising of the service, to WH Smith in the town, would go ahead. The announcement comes after months of deliberation and consultation which sought to deliver the best outcome for Post Office services in Bury St Edmunds.
On Wednesday 13th July, Jo Churchill MP delivered among the last questions to outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron, in his final session of Prime Minister’s Questions. Amongst one of few Conservative MPs to question the Prime Minister, Jo Churchill MP asked
Reflecting on recent events, it is now the priority of decision makers to knuckle down and work to protect the long term economic interest of this country, by delivering certainty to industry and business. For the implications of leaving the European Union, must now be taken into consideration in every aspect of decision-making, including my work as a member of the Environmental Audit Committee.
