Andrew Murrison

Andrew Murrison has slammed the PCTs announcement to close Westbury day hospital from next week.

"This is yet another sad day for Westbury. The PCT has conducted a war of attrition against our community hospitals, running them down until they are able to claim that it is necessary to close them because they cannot guarantee the safety of patients.

"I feel strongly that the community patients, staff and volunteers have been served very badly by the PCT."

Trains latest

MP Andrew Murrison has today received a message from trains minister Derek Twigg MP in which he says that the new rail franchise to run from February 2007 will not contain the direct service to London Waterloo. The minister cites insufficient passenger usage which Andrew and the West Wiltshire Rail Users Group disputes.

However, Mr Twigg in his letter says "we are asking bidders to submit a priced option to run two trains per day between Bristol and London Waterloo via Salisbury as part of their bid".

"I regret that the minister has not included the direct service in the tender document but I am pleased that he has kept the door open for the successful bidder to opt to continue it. I will redouble my efforts to persuade the train operating companies that our bidding for the franchise to include the direct service as South West Trains the current operator has done."

MP presents hospitals petition

Andrew Murrison was one of a record number of MPs presenting petitions at a single sitting at 11.17pm yesterday. Twenty one MPs with community hospitals under threat presented petitions that will now go to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt. Dr Murrison said;

Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury)(Con): I wish to present petitions, in similar terms to those already presented, on behalf of Bradford on Avon , Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury community hospitals in my constituency. I do so in the hope that, having noted the Secretary of State's fine words in the White Paper earlier this year in support of community hospitals, she will see fit to act on those words.

Dr Murrison spoke at the CHANT (Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together) rally in New Palace Yard outside the Commons yesterday in the company of Leader of the Opposition David Cameron and Boris Johnson MP. He was delighted to see busloads of hospital campaigners from his constituency.

West Wilts Council Tax hike is TOP outside London

Andrew Murrison has reacted with dismay at the revelation that West Wilts residents have been hit with the highest increase in council tax outside the capital.

At 5.8% for a typical Band D it exceeds the level for the two councils that were shamed this week by being capped by central government - Medway and York. In Wiltshire the published increases were Kennet 5.1%, North Wiltshire 5%, Salisbury 4.9% and West Wiltshire 5.8%.

"The Lib Dem run district council has a lot of explaining to do. How can it defend its position in the council tax league of shame? Many of my constituents have limited disposable income and will struggle with this."

Earlier this week the MP attacked Lib Dem run Trowbridge Town Council for a 48% rise in its precept.

Rural trains debate

Andrew Murrison spoke up for his train travelling constituents that face cuts in services during a debate this morning on rural train services in the Commons.

The MP who saw the trains minister earlier this months with local train activists was told by the mintser that he was still considering the future of the direct train service from West wiltshire towns to London Waterloo but that he hoped to make a decision this month.

The MP pointed out that the Newtwork Utilisation Strategy of June 2003 recommended that the service be enhanced, not cut. He said;

"The minister's predecessor told me he wanted to improve the service not axe it. Instead, using questionable data, this minister is considering removing the direct service from the post February 2007 franchise."

CHANT goes to town

Busloads of community hospital activitist will descend on the Palace of Westminster tomorrow (Tuesday) to protest at the closure of community hospitals nationwide. Three coach loads are anticipated from West Wiltshire.

"This is our opportunity to tell the Health Secretary what we think of the demolition job PCTs are undertaking in West Wiltshire and across the country. I want the minister to deliver on the commitments given to community hospitals in her policy document earlier this year."

The rally at 1pm outside the Commons will be addressed by Leader of the Opposition David Cameron.

In the evening Andrew Murrison will present a petition on behalf of local residents in the Commons together with other MPs similarly affected. It is hoped this will set the record for the most petitions presented in one sitting.

The event is being organised by CHANT - Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together - which Andrew and our local hospital activists are involved with.

MP raises Trowbridge tax hike in Commons debate

Andrew Murrison asked for the local government minister Phil Woolas to comment on the mammoth 48% real terms tax hike facing his constituents in Trowbridge as a result of a decision by the Lib Dem led town council to ramp up its precept. He pointed out that the precept is now greater than the district council element of the council tax.

The minister who was making a statement on which councils he was applying his tax capping powers to said he wasn't going to look at town and parish taxes and that it was a matter for the councils concerned. Dr Murrison says;

"The minister seems uninterested in the plight of town and parish residents that are being fleeced. It looks like its up to the voters to deliver a verdict on small tax-hungry councils and this I am sure they will do in Trowbridge when the town council is next up for election in May 2007."

"During the debate following the minister's statement the Lib Dem spokesman moaned about the level of council tax but here in Trowbridge where Lib Dems are able to do something to contain it they are putting it up!"

MP Chairs rural housing conference

Andrew Murrison as President of Wiltshire Association of Local Councils (WALC) will tomorrow (Friday) chair the morning session of a conference in Devizes on affordable rural housing in sustainable communities.

Throughout Wiltshire property price rises have created a lack of affordable homes. This has changed the demographics of villages in particular and we have seen how this can have knock-on effects on the viability of schools and services in rural areas.

MP's energy efficiency prize goes to

The Hope Nature Centre

MP Andrew Murrison's name has been drawn out of the hat in a survey run by B&Q into MPs' energy saving habits.

Andrew's prize was a book by yatchswomen Dame Ellen MacArthur that he has donated to West Wiltshire Sailing Association in Westbury and £200 in B&Q tokens that he has sent to the Hope Nature Centre in Trowbridge.

The survey revealed that 72% of MPs use energy saving light bulbs, only 72% turn off appliances rather than leave them on standby, 87% of MPs turn off the lights when they leave a room, 79% of MPs have insulated windows or doors in their homes and 77% of them have roof or wall insulation.

"The survey was a good way of raising awareness of energy efficiency measures among MPs. I'm grateful for the generosity of B&Q which will benefit two very worthwhile organizations in West Wiltshire.

MP slams Trowbridge town tax hike

Andrew Murrison has been lobbied by Trowbridge residents as council tax bills landed on doormats on Monday. The town precept, once a relatively small sum, now exceeds the district council, the fire authority and the police authority elements of the council tax bill.

Although the headline increase in the town precept given on bills was 78% this included a transfer of the cost of Trowbridge museum meaning the actual increase is 48% due largely to a controversial war chest that the council has voted in to underwrite its embryonic town hall plans.

Following the concerns expressed by constituents, the MP is looking at the size of bureaucracies supporting town councils in Wiltshire.

He has found that the Trowbridge town council payroll for 05/06 has 30 full and part-time employees plus ten casual appointments. Fourteen of the 30 appear to operate from the town hall under the town clerk.

The salaries of the 14 central staff cost £293,514 of the £510,969 total, equivalent to approximately £9.80 per person per year.

"Clearly Trowbridge town council is making a major contribution to the increase in council tax bills. I hope it will conduct a thorough review of its spending.

"Eyeballing the figures it seems that a Trowbridge resident will be paying rather more for his or her town council than other residents in West Wiltshire.

MP on the campaign trail

Andrew Murrison will join hospital campaigners tomorrow (Saturday) in Warminster. The activists will be collecting signatures on a nationwide petition organised by "CHANT - Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together".

The petitions will be presented to Parliament on the 28 th March and the aim is to break the record for the largest number of petitions presented on one day to the Commons. This is aimed at delivery a strong message to ministers that are considering the future of community hospitals.

"I have three community hospitals in my constituency that are currently under threat and a fourth - Bradford on Avon - that has already been closed by the Primary Care Trust".

"People feel passionately about their local hospitals and they are right to do so. I hope that our petition and rally on the 28th March will help to shift the debate further in favour of community hospitals".

MP's dismay at ABRO announcement

Defence Minister Adam Ingram has today announced that he will take forward his provisional plans announced last year to significantly cut back Warminster ABRO.

In his letter to Dr Murrison dated 16 March Mr Ingram stated his intention to reduce staff by 82 in this financial year and 46 in 2007/08.

Dr Murrison who has met staff at ABRO and remonstrated with the minister in the Commons said;

"I regret this move and will discuss where we go from here with staff at ABRO. A dedicated, loyal and highly skilled workforce hangs in the balance and I believe that the Army's operational effectiveness stands to suffer from the minister's plans."

The letter from Adam Ingram says that he will potentially sell off the Warminster ABRO site and lease it back. Total redundancies for ABRO nationwide will be 339 over two years.

MP raises Trowbridge town tax in Parliament

At 1215 today on the floor of the Commons Andrew Murrison asked Leader of the House Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP for a debate on the hike in town council precepts being suffered by people that live outside metropolitan areas. This is because there is no capping on the town council element of council tax bills.

The local MP cited Trowbridge town council that will raise the precept by a mammoth 48%.

"In responding to my question Mr Hoon suggested that precepts are small so 48% isn't that much. In fact precepts have now risen so much that they are a significant chunk of the total council tax bill. Clearly there is a need for ministers to be better briefed on local government finance and I will have to pursue this."

The MP has written to John Prescott the Deputy Prime Minister about the Trowbridge tax hike but has yet to receive a reply.

MP at Westbury pharmacy

Local MP Dr Andrew Murrison whose Shadow Health Minister responsibilities include pharmacy will tomorrow (Friday) visit the Alliance pharmacy in Westbury high street.

Alliance Niche has invited the MP following his comments about the future of pharmacies during the committee stage of the Health Bill that is currently before Parliament.

The MP will be interested to explore how the large pharmacy chain plans to reflect the changes outlined in the Bill, especially the expansion of the role of the pharmacist.

Dr Murrison will meet with representatives at his Trowbridge office at 2pm for discussions about the distribution side of the business before traveling to Westbury arriving at the Westbury pharmacy at 9-11 Westbury high street at 3pm .

MP and activists meet trains minister

Andrew Murrison and local residents and representatives met trains minister Derek Twigg MP this afternoon to discuss the threatened direct service to London Waterloo.

"The minister and his officials listened and undertook to look again at the passenger figures compiled by West Wiltshire Rail Users Group and to compare them with their own which we believe are flawed and seriously underestimate the popularity of the service."

The minister said he would announce his plans for the future of the service at the end of the month.

MP unearths town council precept hikes

Andrew Murrison has found that the rise in town council precepts in England for a typical Band D property since 96/97 at 96% has outstripped the rise in total council tax over the same period which lies at 76%.

The data emerged from a request the MP made to the House of Commons library after being alerted to proposals by Trowbridge town council to raise its tax by a whopping 48% (originally 87% but reduced after a public outcry).

The MP has written to John Prescott to ask what will be done to address escalating town and parish precepts. The district and county council elements are currently constrained by central government using capping. The MP said;

"Town councils must act responsibly and the evidence that I have casts doubt on whether this has universally been the case. Certainly Trowbridge town council needs to think long and hard about whether its priorities are in tune with those of the people that it seeks to represent."

MP meets trains minister

Andrew Murrison will this afternoon lead a delegation from West Wiltshire to meet trains minister Derek Twigg MP at the department for transport.

Representatives from the West Wiltshire Rail Users Group (WWRUG) and the district's town councils will discuss the minister's plans to remove the direct service to London waterloo from the post Feb 07 rail franchise.

Passenger usage figures compiled by the department conflict with popular experience and with data gathered by WWRUG. The MP has received information that the figures on which the minister is relying are misleading.

"The service is well used and it would be a blow to our area if it did not feature in next year's timetable."

The delegation will meet Shadow Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling MP after seeing the minister.

Warminster events

Andrew Murrison will attend Warminster Fairtrade Group's promotional event at St Lawrence Chapel Warminster tomorrow (Saturday) at 10.30am . Andrew will be responding to an invitation to reveal what fairtrade products he buys and why.

On Sunday at 3pm the local MP will attend Warminster's Civic Service at the Minister Church as the guest of the Mayor Cllr Les Rose.

MP's support for town tax protesters

Andrew Murrison is unhappy with Trowbridge Town for raising its precept by 48% to provide a war chest for the refurbishment of the old town hall that is owned by Wiltshire County Council.

A letter from County Chief Executive Keith Robertson to Trowbridge Town Clerk Lance Allen reveals that the possibility of the County footing some of the Bill for putting the empty building back in order has not been raised by the town council.

"This letter is deeply disturbing. It suggests that the town council's first instinct is to tap local residents.

"Most of my constituents believe their council tax is high enough already. They're deeply unimpressed with Trowbridge town council's extraordinary tax hike aimed at putting right a building for which it has yet to formulate a plan, which it doesn't even own and whose good order is not its responsibility but that of the County Council.

"I have written to the County Council to ask what measures it will take to look after the town hall.

"I hope to see as many people as possible at the public meeting in the Civic Hall on 10 April to discuss the building's future.

Wiltshire's role in tackling climate change

Local MP Andrew Murrison has added his support to calls for new ways to tackle climate change by generating more energy locally, through small-scale and eco-friendly means. This comes at a time when a series of power firms have announced sharp hikes in gas and electricity bills for local households. At present, most electricity comes from large power plants and transmitted over long distances, wasting two-thirds of the energy in the process.

'Decentralised energy' systems would see everyday buildings exchanging electricity with local networks. Such buildings would either create energy for themselves, by using devices such as solar panels, small wind turbines, or use more energy efficient devices, such as combined heat and power boilers, which generate electricity as well as providing heat and hot water. Any surplus energy the building did not use would be fed back into a local grid.

"We should be seeking a long-term cross-party consensus on sustainable development and climate change.

"At a time of rising energy bills, I believe that decentralised energy in Wiltshire could be part of the solution. It would help to reduce dependency on imported fuels, increase British competitiveness and engage citizens in the impact of their own personal use of energy.

MP to attend Presentation Ceremony

Dr Andrew Murrison MP will attend the Faithworks Presentation Ceremony to be held in St Margaret's Hall, Bradford on Avon on Saturday 4 th March at lunch time. It is planned to present the Town Council with a framed copy of the Faithworks Charter document.

Faithworks has organised an Area Conference between 9.30am and 4.30pm , entitled ' Connecting Church to the Community' and is being targeted at local churches in Bradford on Avon and the surrounding area.

The day is to be led by Malcolm Duncan, National Leader of Faithworks. It is being supported by Bradford on Avon Area Churches Together.

MP visits Clarendon

Andrew Murrison will be at Clarendon School in Trowbridge tomorrow to talk about citizenship in the community for year 10 students.

He will be talking to students about his job, the democratic process and will be answering questions.

"Last year's citizenship event at Clarendon was a success and I'm glad its being repeated. I enjoyed meeting the students and listening to their points of view."

MP at John of Gaunt school

Andrew Murrison will meet students at John of Gaunt School in Trowbridge tomorrow afternoon.

Afterwards he will be participating in the students' theme park module that they undertake as part of their English work. He will listen to presentations and provide some feedback.

MP to visit Warminster Cancer Information and Support Service

Andrew Murrison will be at Warminster library tomorrow (Friday) visiting the Cancer Information and Support Service that has been sponsored by MacMillan.

The Shadow Health Minister today took part in Britain 's Biggest Breakfast, a fundraising and awareness raising event in the Commons as the guest of Cancer Research UK .

"Most of us are touched by cancer in some way or other, personally or because family or friends have suffered from it.

"In MacMillans and Cancer Research UK we have two of the major players in our battle against cancer and the mental and physical trauma it causes to sufferers and carers."

NHS dentistry crisis

Andrew Murrison will tomorrow attack the government's proposals for NHS dentistry from the despatch box in the Commons.

The Shadow Health Minister is concerned that new plans that are due to come into force on 1 April will force dentists out of the NHS making access for his constituents even worse.

The dental provider Community Dental Centres which operates 9 surgeries in the west including one in Trowbridge has written to Andrew to say it will have to consider its commitment to the NHS if the contract is not changed. Potentially this would mean the deregistration of 100,000 of its patients.

"The Opposition, patient groups and dentists have been warning the government for months that its plans will make a bad situation worse. I hope even at this 11 th hour it will listen." ENDS

MP - no confidence in PCT

Andrew Murrison has delivered a verdict of no confidence in West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust following the announcement this morning that it would be closing down the in patient facility at Westbury hospital at the weekend.

In its press release the PCT has blamed staff shortages for the need to transfer Westbury's in patients elsewhere pending better community facilities that will allow people to be cared for at home. Dr Murrison says;

"This is extremely disingenuous as the PCT's misguided proposals to close the hospital have led to the shortages that it says have driven its latest announcement. As for the promised home care, we should see it up and running before shipping vulnerable people out.

"I've been very reluctant to withdraw my confidence from the PCT and have up to now maintained a dialogue but I'm afraid its now crossed my line in the sand. It has completely mismanaged the situation, its communications are appalling and I think the way it has treated its frontline staff is a disgrace.

After being told that the Chief Executives of the PCT and the Strategic Health Authority were in meetings, the MP spoke to the Director of Health Policy and Strategy at the SHA who knew nothing about this morning's announcement. Dr Murrison says;

"I'm staggered by the fact that nobody in authority seems to know what's going on. What on earth is a Director of Health Policy and Strategy for if she hasn't a clue about a big ticket strategic policy issue like the virtual closure of a hospital on her patch?

"I'm horrified by the PCT's failure to engage in any meaningful way with the public and its decision to plough on regardless of local views and the recent government white paper. I have called on the Health Secretary to intervene before irreparable damage is done to local healthcare.

MP visits dental school

Dr Andrew Murrison MP will tomorrow (Thursday) visit the School of Professionals Complementary to Dentistry tomorrow at the University of Portsmouth in his role as Shadow Health Minister responsible for dentistry.

With the advent of the new dental contract that will herald the biggest shake-up in NHS dentistry for 50 years just weeks away, Andrew is keen to explore opportunities for expanding the role of professions complementary to dentistry.

In Parliament Andrew has argued for allowing dental hygienists and nurses to do more than they are currently allowed to do.

He will be meeting the Vice Chancellor before going on a tour of the school. Later in the day he will be travelling to Basingstoke to meet GPs.

MP supports residents against monster hedge

Andrew Murrison has written to the planning inspectorate to add his voice to their call for some common sense against West Wiltshire District Council's failure to order the owner of Belcombe Court to chop his leylandii down to an acceptable size.

I would like to add my protest at the nonsense of West Wiltshire District Council's decision regarding the lowering of the hedges at the above site.

It is surely contrary to the purposes of the legislation to only partially lower the screen on the grounds that a further reduction would threaten the viability of the monstrous non-indigenous vegetation concerned.

Had the owners of Belcombe Court managed their leylandii appropriately the evergreens would not now be endangered by the pruning required in the legislation.

Furthermore, the young deciduous plantation within the grounds of Belcombe Court is apparently now at a height of some 5 metres. This lies between my constituents and the House effectively obscuring the view that the owners of the latter presumably objects to.

I am deeply disappointed that the Council thinks so little of my constituents that it places the possible demise of leylandii above the welfare of residents whose enjoyment of their property has been blighted for years.

MP demands a visit from Patricia's

hospital 'hit squad'

Andrew Murrison has written to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to demand that the community hospital 'hit squad' announced at the weekend hits West Wilts Primary Care Trust and the local Strategic Health Authority hard.

The squad was announced at the weekend following last month's plans by the government for healthcare in the community and a stated commitment to community hospitals. This was welcomed by the local MP and Shadow Health Minister Andrew Murrison who wrote to the Health Secretary and the PCT to ask what they would do in the light of it to save the threatened community hospitals in his constituency.

The squads will interrogate local healthcare managers over their plans to scrap hospitals for short term budgetary reasons. The MP said;

"It seems that the Health Secretary and the public are united in their desire to keep community hospitals. The only problem is the PCT. The Health Secretary's hit squad must persuade the PCT to bin its daft plans or the Health Secretary's fine words will be no more than hot air.

"A lot rides on this. Given the imminent closure of Westbury, the fact that we've already lost Bradford and with question marks over Trowbridge, Warminster and Melksham I think the hit squad should visit us first.

"Patricia Hewitt has said she'll support community hospitals but now's the time for her 'hit squad' to bang some sense into our increasingly isolated PCT.

MP pins down minister

Andrew Murrison has tabled parliamentary questions to determine what action Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt will be taking following her stated commitment to community hospitals last month in the Commons.

"I understand that our local Primary Care Trust thinks it can plough on with its disastrous closure programme regardless. To do so would be to treat new and refreshing government policy with contempt. Therefore, I'm keen for the minister to say what she will do to bring the PCT into line.

"West Wilts PCT is looking increasingly isolated in its plans for hospital closures, particularly as it so obviously does not enjoy the confidence of local residents.

The MP has also written to Carol Clark, Chief Executive of the PCT, to ask for her proposals in the light of last month's Government White Paper on community-based healthcare that supports community hospitals.

MP's message of support

Andrew Murrison has sent a message of support to the Community Hospitals public meeting to be held at Matravers School Westbury tonight (Wednesday). He has sent his message to local campaigner Erica Watson who plans to read them out this evening. The MP's message reads;

I am very sorry that voting on the Terrorism Bill means that I am unable to join you this evening. However, I am grateful for the opportunity to record my feelings about the Primary Care Trust's disastrous plans to shut down community hospitals in West Wiltshire.

I can think of no other single issue that has upset my constituents more than this. The campaign to save our local hospitals has my wholehearted support as the local MP, as a Shadow Health Minister and as a doctor.

Consequently I have spent a lot of time highlighting the importance of local hospitals in Parliament over the past few years through debate, parliamentary questions and meetings with ministers and officials. More recently I have been delighted to be involved with the national campaigning group Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together to which West Wiltshire is making an important contribution.

The Government White Paper on community-based healthcare published last month and the Health Secretary's subsequent statement in the Commons contained a clear and refreshing commitment to community hospitals. The White Paper states that the short-term budgetary pressures that PCTs are experiencing should not be considered grounds for hospital closure programmes.

In the light of this I have tabled further parliamentary questions to establish what further instructions the Health Secretary has issued to West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust. I have also written to ask the Chief Executive of the PCT how she will comply with policy signalled in the White Paper.

I believe that ministers have been listening to what we have said but it is important to keep up the pressure if fine words are to be matched by action.

MP posts love note

Andrew Murrison will take part in the British Heart Foundation Valentine Appeal by posting a 'Love Note' in the BHF shop window in Trowbridge tomorrow (Friday).

Expert help from a BHF Heart Nurse can make a big difference to people with coronary heart disease yet most people that could benefit do not do so. The Valentine appeal is designed to help rectify that.

MP speaks out against dental plans

Andrew Murrison has led opposition to the government's proposed new dental contract this week in the Commons.

The Shadow Health Minister fears that the new arrangements for paying dentists due to come into force on 1 April will drive away NHS dentists and worsen access.

Dr Murrison who has been in touch with dentists locally and across the country says;

"I've urged ministers to pilot their plans so the potential pitfalls they contain can be avoided. Unfortunately they are keen to plough on and I fear this will make access to NHS dentistry in our area and nationwide even worse."

MP outraged by council's letter

Andrew Murrison has reacted with horror to a letter sent by Bradford on Avon town clerk Diane Holmes to the town's Preservation Trust Chairman of planning Barbara Humble, a copy of which was sent to him.

In the letter dealing with the controversial Frome Road developments that have been supported by the town council but criticized by the Trust and the MP, Ms Holmes says;

"It would be a pity if such a potentially useful body [the Preservation Trust] should come to be seen as no more than a political pressure group dedicated to the cause of encouraging the spread of pastiche architecture throughout the town."

"The town council scorns other people's taste as 'pastiche' whilst actively promoting the disastrous old gasworks site development on Frome Road . It seems to me that the Preservation Trust more closely reflects the views and aspirations of local people.

"I hope Bradford on Avon town council will apologise to Mrs Humble and to the Preservation Trust for its rudeness and consider how it can improve its representative of public opinion and better cooperate with voluntary bodies like the Trust that are dedicated to the town.

MP joins campaign to prevent avoidable blindness

Andrew Murrison joined with RNIB in Parliament for the launch of their national eye health campaign 'Open Your Eyes', which aims to cut the number of people who will unnecessarily lose their sight from treatable eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and Age-related macular degeneration.

RNIB estimate that if urgent action is not taken now, the number of people with sight loss could double by 2030, to four million people.

Andrew said 'I support RNIB's call on government to raise awareness of the need for a regular eye test and will be working at local and national level to help them with the campaign.

Many people believe that an eye test is just to see whether you need glasses, but it is more than this - it is an eye health check. Only two-thirds of the adult population have had an eye test within the past two years, the most common reason for not having a test being that people think they don't have a problem with their eyes. But an eye test can identify eye disease well before we notice any change in our vision. By the time there are symptoms a great deal of useful vision will have been lost and may never be recovered.

Steve Winyard, RNIB's Head of Public Policy, said "Ignorance is quietly robbing people of their sight every day. Unless action is taken now tens of thousands of people across the UK will this year needlessly lose their sight from conditions that could be treated if caught early. The Government needs to act now as the situation is going to get much worse with the explosion in the numbers of people with diabetes and the ageing of our population. We want the Government to invest in a large-scale public eye health awareness campaign on the importance of regular eye tests. Regular eye tests are vital for everyone. An eye test can save your sight."

MP SPINS THE WHEEL OF LIFE

ANDREW MURRISON MP indulged in a touch of 'spin' as he helped promote a Cancer Research UK drive to highlight ways in which cancer can be prevented through changes to lifestyle.

Andrew played the Wheel of Life at a special healthy living day at the Houses of Parliament.

The event helped launch the second year of Cancer Research UK's Reduce the Risk campaign to MPs. Reduce the Risk aims to raise awareness of the avoidable risks of cancer and the importance of early detection .

The Wheel of Life is a fun way to find out about the risks and benefits of different behaviours such as eating healthily, smoking or sunbathing. Players are awarded points based on where the wheel stops; for example, you can lose 500 points for being a heavy smoker but win back 200 for swapping your pie for a healthy alternative!

Dr Lesley Walker, Director of Cancer Information at Cancer Research UK said: "Our Reduce the Risk campaign highlights five important ways you can lower your cancer risk including stopping smoking, staying in shape, eating and drinking healthily, being S un S mart and reporting anything unusual to your doctor.

"Stopping smoking is the most important thing people can do to reduce their cancer risk, which is why Cancer Research UK is calling on all MPs to vote for legislation to end smoking in all workplaces when the Health Bill is debated in February.

"Regular exposure to secondhand smoke increases your risk of lung cancer by 25 per cent and contributes to a wide range of serious diseases. Workers in pubs and private members' clubs deserve the same right to protection from secondhand smoke as everyone else."

One of the biggest known preventable causes of cancer in non-smokers is obesity and Cancer Research UK has joined forces with the charity Weight Concern to develop Ten Top Tips - a set of weight management guidelines that can be incorporated into everyday routines without radical lifestyle change. The scientifically-based programme involves adopting 10 simple steps and using a weekly checklist to monitor progress and help reinforce the new habits.

Speaking at the event, supported by the on-site gym and refreshment department of the Houses of Parliament, Andrew Murrison MP said: "Half of all cancers could be prevented by lifestyle changes so it is in our own interests that we each do all we can to reduce our risk. The Ten Top Tips programme is a great way to lose weight and keep it off. Many of us make resolutions to lose weight and get fit in January; Ten Top Tips can help you make that a reality."

Try to eat at roughly the same times each day, whether this is two or five times a day.

Choose reduced fat versions of foods such as dairy products, spreads and salad dressings where you can. Use them sparingly as some can still be high in fat.

Walk 10,000 steps (equivalent to 60-90 minutes moderate activity) each day. You can use a pedometer to help count the steps. You can break-up your walking throughout the day.

If you snack, choose a healthy option such as fresh fruit or low calorie yogurts instead of chocolate or crisps.

Be careful about food claims. Check the fat and sugar content on food labels when shopping and preparing food.

Don't heap food on your plate (except vegetables). Think twice before having second helpings.

Choose water or sugar-free squashes. Unsweetened fruit juice is high in natural sugar so limit it to 1 glass per day (200ml/ 1/3 pint). Alcohol is high in calories. Try to limit the amount you drink.

Slow down. Don't eat on the go or while watching TV. Eat at a table if possible.

MP hails cottage hospital 'U' turn

Andrew Murrison has welcomes an apparent change of heart by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt on community hospitals today's in the Commons.

In the long-awaited government White Paper 'Our health, our care, our say' presented at Westminster today the Health Secretary laid out her plans to shift NHS services from big acte hospitals to the community.

"In some cases, PCTs are planning to close local cottage hospitals. Where these closures are due to facilities that are clinically not viable or which local people do not want to use, then local reorganisation is right. But community facilities that are needed for the long term must not be lost in response to short-term budgetary pressure. So we will expect PCTs to reconsider such proposals against the principles of the White Paper ."

Dr Murrison who was in his place on the Opposition front bench during the statement this afternoon said this evening;

"Clearly services at each of the community hospitals in West Wiltshire are both viable and well used. Therefore., I call on the PCT and Ms Hewitt to reconsider their planned closures in accordance with the government statement today. If they don't Ms Hewitt's remarks will simply be hot air.

"In particular, the minister has apparently accepted the argument that many of us have been making all along, namely that community hospitals should not be axed to get PCTs out of a short-term financial fix. Had she seen the light earlier on we might not have suffered the loss of Bradford on Avon hospital, Westbury might not be facing a similar imminent catastrophe and Melksham, Trowbridge and Warminster would not be worried that they are next in line.

MP VISITS APETITO

Andrew Murrison will tomorrow (Friday) be visiting Apetito in Trowbridge, a major employer in his constituency. He will meet Paul Freeston, Chief Executive, to discuss issues relating to the food industry as Mr Freeston assumes his role as Vice President of the Food and Drink Federation.

Shadow Health Minister Dr Murrison will be particularly interested to hear about Apetito's expansion as a supplier of meals to the NHS. During his visit he'll sample some hospital food without having to go to hospital!

"The food industry plays a prominent role as an employer in West Wiltshire and I'm keen to be kept up to date.

MP JOINS CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS

Andrew Murrison MP has joined with Royal National Institute for the Blind in Parliament for the launch of their national eye health campaign 'Open Your Eyes', which aims to cut the number of people who will unnecessarily lose their sight from treatable eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and Age-related macular degeneration.

RNIB estimate that if urgent action is not taken now, the number of people with sight loss could double by 2030, to four million people.

"I support RNIB's call on government to raise awareness of the need for a regular eye test and will be working at local and national level to help them with the campaign.

"Ignorance is quietly robbing people of their sight every day. Unless action is taken now tens of thousands of people across the UK will this year needlessly lose their sight from conditions that could be treated if caught early. The Government needs to act now as the situation is going to get much worse with the explosion in the numbers of people with diabetes and the ageing of our population.

MPs MEET POLICE CHIEFS

Wiltshire's MPs will be meeting the county's police chiefs at Westminster today to discuss opposition to the governments' plan to abolish the country's oldest county force as part of its nationwide restructuring of police forces.

West Wilts' Dr Andrew Murrison, North Wilts MP James Gray, Michael Ancram of Devizes and Salisbury's Robert Key will meet Chief Constable Martin Richards and Police Authority Chairman Bertie Woolnough at 2.30pm.

Senior Police Officers and Members of Police authorities from across the country will be converging on their MPs today as the Association of Police Authorities and the Association of Chief Police Officers organize a national lobby day on police restructuring.

"Wiltshire has one of the lowest crime rates in the UK and a commendable clear-up rate. I struggle to see how merging Wiltshire Constabulary with neighbouring forces will do anything other than downgrade policing in the county and redeploy resources to large town and cities.

"The government's plans to create big regional forces risk a two-tier constabulary as community policing is relegated to the second division.

Westbury Hospital

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MP presents hospitals petition

West Wilts Council Tax hike is TOP outside London

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MP's energy efficiency prize goes to

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MP on the campaign trail

MP's dismay at ABRO announcement

MP raises Trowbridge town tax in Parliament

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MP meets trains minister

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MP - no confidence in PCT

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hospital 'hit squad'

MP pins down minister

MP's message of support

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MP outraged by council's letter

MP joins campaign to prevent avoidable blindness

MP SPINS THE WHEEL OF LIFE

MP hails cottage hospital 'U' turn

MP VISITS APETITO

MP JOINS CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT AVOIDABLE BLINDNESS

MPs MEET POLICE CHIEFS