June proved to be a challenging month, with much continued focus on our work to drive accountability and transparency into every corner of the NHS. I have been thrilled by the commitment of others in the healthcare system to this goal. Working with surgeons, we published individual surgeons’ outcomes data. For the first time, patients can see a surgeon’s performance by looking at the outcomes of particular operations. The evidence is clear that this kind of transparency leads to improvements in quality of care.
We know that these improvements result from being honest and open about failures in the system, and by confronting them. That’s why we I have also been supporting the new leadership at the Care Quality Commission as it sheds light on CQCs previous failures, including to identify and prevent tragedies at hospitals like Morecambe Bay.
My constituency visits this month have been busy and I've had the pleasure of meeting a number of inspirational people and visited a wide range of organisations.
During National Volunteer Week (1-7th June) I met some remarkable constituents who give up their free time to volunteer. It was a great to chat to them and hear their individual stories and varied reasons for volunteering. They represent the significant number of people from my constituency who offer up their time to volunteer and it's important to recognise that without their commitment and generosity many of the charities and organisations that we benefit from as a community would simply not survive. Volunteering also benefits the volunteers, many of whom learn new skills, meet new people, broaden their experience and with some going on to secure paid work. I encourage anyone in the community who would like to volunteer to their local Volunteer Bureau as volunteering will undoubtedly enrich both their lives and others.
An organisation which relies heavily on the generosity of its volunteers is Sue Ryder , provider of health and social care services and I was delighted to visit their new shop in Farnham and meet the volunteers, Manager and Chief Executive. The shop commands a great site next to Sainsburys in South Street and what impressed me most were the staff and volunteers who were clearly extremely motivated to make the shop a success. The funds raised in shops like the one in Farnham are a vital source of income for the charity and I do encourage constituents to support the organisation with a visit to the shop.
Just as I've been inspired by meeting many volunteers within the constituency this month I also had the privilege to meet a number of inspirational young people who attend The Abbey School. The Abbey is a special school based in Farnham which is attended by children from within the constituency who have moderate learning difficulties. I very much enjoyed the tour of the school and meeting the students whilst they were engaged in learning activities. I particularly enjoyed sitting in on the school council meeting (pictured above) and hearing the students’ fantastic ideas for future school projects. The breadth of educational, fun and meaningful activity which the students were participating in whilst I was there was impressive and I was also particularly struck by was the warmth of the environment and the motivation of all the staff, led by its dynamic Head, Chris Gardiner, to ensure that every individual student receives the best opportunity to reach their potential. The students were a delight to meet and should be extremely proud of all that they are achieving at the school. Many of them are leaving this Summer to start further education, some of whom simply would not have been able to had they remained struggling in a mainstream school and I wish them every success for their future.