That was the week that was.
A very health-orientated week. Kicked off proceedings
with a talk on infertility treatments in the House of Commons – all went well.
It came out that we could well save the NHS £17 million if we reassessed
hormone treatment. The Minister will contact my sources to get some more
information and hopefully start the ball rolling. I wonder where that £17
million might end up instead…
Richard Branson’s press conference to announce a ‘cord
blood bank’ was fascinating, and I was caught by the press and asked to make a
comment... I’m not sure Branson was too thrilled about some of the comments,
but although there are questions about the effectiveness of cord blood given
its short life span, you have to applaud his determination. The press conference itself was full of
surprises: we meet a Norwich constituent who had done the advertising for the
project, then phoned the Evening News and they published the story.
Friday comes around quickly, and I was home on the last
train after a MacMillan Cancer Relief Concert in London. The train was just
about running to time, but sadly I didn’t get home until 2am. Up again at 7 to
carry out constituency work in the office with staff – 6 cases at surgery,
interviews with Look East and Anglia TV about an illegal immigrant who
committed a crime in Norfolk, national newspapers about cord blood, Tony Blair,
and other issues with radio programmes. After that, a talk at a mental health
meeting in the Maddermarket, and a meeting with hospital consultants. The day
ends with a quiz at Colney Lane – I can only explain my position by saying that
the lack of political questions didn’t help me cause!
Saturday meant surgery at Sainsbury’s Pound Lane where
we heard about everything from problems at the N&N, CSA cases, Tax Credit
failures, speeding, and dozens more. Afterwards, off to see a house in Thorpe
St Andrew where the neighbours are opposing planning permission. An interesting
afternoon spent at Carrow Road, but a good result at least.
Sunday is a day of rest apparently, but I started off
by reading most of my papers for next week in Parliament. The ‘rest’ comprised
of a walk from the Berney Arms to Reedham. Managed to relax for 2-3 hours.