Given the problems that beset the Government of non-deportation of foreign prisoners; the tax credits fiasco; job losses in the NHS etc it is a pleasure to report some good news on our local NHS.

I had an exciting and interesting visit to the Princess Royal Hospital at the end of April to launch the new pioneering nurse led service for new born babies and their mothers.

This is a piece of really good news for our hard pressed and much admired local hospital whose doctors, nurses and managers are struggling heroically to deliver too many Government driven changes.

I am really pleased that the Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioners have come to Mid Sussex and I am confident that they will provide a superb quality service. Actually I am proud at what the Trust has achieved in securing them since they are much wanted in other places.

The Project to provide a new Community Centre in Ashenground is one that is dear to my heart and it shows how a strong community can rally to a really worthwhile cause.

I was pleased to be able to help the fundraisers secure lottery money and they have made tremendous achievements in raising money locally for this excellent project.

As a matter of fact this is exactly the sort of thing the lottery should be giving money to. Do let me know if there are projects that would be of interest for lottery funding and I will be glad to help.

I have had a lot of letters about the proposed changes that Mid Sussex District Council and Thornfields are consulting on in Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath. Public concern is entirely understandable about this but there are huge opportunities in both these towns for the future.

I am attending a meeting with the Council and the Developers tomorrow to be taken through the project and to discuss the many observations and suggestions I have from local people in Mid Sussex who are both in favour of and worried about what is proposed.

On the 25th May at the Martlets Hall in Burgess Hill at 7pm I will be chairing a public meeting to discuss our local health services.

The proposals in Best Care, Best Place are now in operation and it will be a good moment to review where we are and for people to discuss with NHS managers, consultants and GPs as to how the services should develop for the future given our growing population and the increasing pressures on this service.

I hope to speak in the House of Commons in a health debate this week and I shall be making the point to Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health, that the Government has to understand the financial difficulties of our Trust and to give them the time to adjust to the Government reforms without being made to damage services because of Government diktat.

I think it is very irresponsible of the Government to force cuts because of an unrealistic timescale that might affect frontline services and make life even harder for hard pressed nursing and medical staff; and for patients.