In the last couple of weeks I’ve had some very positive visits to local institutions which highlight some of the very best of the Yeovil Constituency. The graduation ceremony for students at Yeovil College was an excellent occasion with a really tangible sense of achievement and optimism for the future. It was a real honour to be with the families and friends of students for the awards and to hear about the impressive range of qualifications being gained. It was encouraging to hear employers talking about the very useful and relevant skills that are being taught and feeding directly through into local businesses. Many congratulations to the students involved as well as to a lot of proud parents. I’m looking forward to my next visit to the College to see how we can help further their excellent work and the links with the community.
I also visited Yeovil District Hospital to discuss their work in both health and social care. The integration of the two is a priority of this Government’s and through the Symphony Project Yeovil is leading the way. The joining together of different services will put the patient at the centre of care whether in a hospital, doctor’s surgery or in the community. Too often in the past it has been up to the patients to figure out how all the elements fit together and chase appointments and referrals. It is brilliant to see Yeovil leading the charge to put the focus back on the patient and I have been greatly impressed with the ambition and dedication of the local CC heads. This week I have a meeting of the Somerset MPs’ Health Forum where I will get together with colleagues from neighbouring constituencies and NHS bosses to look at issues across the County.
AgustaWestland is such an iconic company and it is always a pleasure to visit. On this occasion I met with trade union heads as well as the management and was shown around the blade lines. Like any business they have their challenges and as the MP I will do all I can to support them in the future. Skilled engineering and manufacture is so important and this is one of the companies that makes British Built a sign of quality and ingenuity across the world. It is no coincidence that the Chairman, Graham Cole, was guest speaker at the Yeovil College graduation ceremony. Businesses need highly skilled young employees and even better to have them based so close by. Graduates need exciting opportunities to make their first step into the world of work.
It is a very busy session in Westminster and there has been a lot of comment on issues about our constitution and how things work following the House of Lords voting against measures passed in the House of Commons. I will leave that for another time. It may be something that is seen as part of the ‘Westminster Bubble’. In terms of what matters most to people, like education, health care and jobs the important things are found much closer to home.