Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Middy for its vigorous backing of the Support the Princess Royal Hospital march last month.

I was overwhelmed by the turnout and Health Ministers and the Strategic Health Authority can be under no illusion as to strength of local feeling on this issue. Surely 45,700 signatures and 7,500 marchers cannot be ignored? Such a display of outraged public opinion must have brought about the decision by the West Sussex PCT to delay publishing its proposals on the reconfiguration of services across the whole of Sussex until early next year.

The local community are committed to preventing the Primary Care Trust from taking away the A&E at the Princess Royal Hospital and to maintaining a full maternity service. As everyone in Mid Sussex knows it is a growing area, and why, when the population is rising the health service should be diminished is quite beyond any form of logic.

Ahead of the march I spoke in a debate in the House of Commons. During the debate I emphasised to the Secretary of State that since I became the Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex in 1997 there have been four reviews of local hospital services. Whilst I recognise the positive changes within the NHS over the last few years and indeed the level of investment, the manner in which the Government is interfering with the fundamental infrastructure of the health service is a fatal mistake. Only 18 months ago I was given an assurance on the floor of the House of Commons by the Minister of State that “There is no question of A and E services being downgraded or becoming a minor injuries unit. That is not going to happen” – I will be holding the Secretary of State for Health to account.

There is still time to sign the petition on line at http://www.supportprh.com/. Together with Nick Herbert MP and Norman Baker MP I will be presenting it to the Secretary of State.

From my previous column you may recall that to compensate for the carbon emissions generated from work I do in the community I have donated 18 trees to local people. Last Thursday I was delighted to attend the first tree planting organised by Burgess Hill Town Council at the new burial ground. Climate Change is undoubtedly one of the most serious challenges facing us all and tough choices need to be made by the Government, business and individuals – I hope that the Government responds to widespread calls for a Climate Change Bill.

Turning to another issue of local and national concern is the future of the Post Office network. I recently undertook a survey amongst the Postmasters in my constituency on the withdrawal of Government support for the Post Office Card Account. I am most grateful to all the Postmasters who took the time to respond; 70% of them thought that the removal of the Post Office Card Account will jeopardise the viability of their business.

My Parliamentary colleagues and I are calling on the Government to review their decision to remove the POCA. The long-term future of the network will be best secured if the Post Office is opened up to new markets and new customers. Post Offices must be able to offer a broader range of services; we are pushing for more Post Offices to become one stop shops for Central Government services.