By the time this report appears in print the debate on the controversial NHS Foundation Trusts will have taken place and we will know if the Labour Party whips have stifled a potential revolt among their backbenchers. It will be very disappointing if this has happened although understandable when you realise that an ambitious young MP’s political career is effectively in the hands of his or her Party whips.

There is encouraging news on the health front at home. Our Primary Care Trust forecasts that we will get the major elective orthopaedic surgery centre with 28 beds building up to do a wide range of elective orthopaedic surgery for ourselves and other parts of the Midlands. They also predict 19 beds for inpatient elective surgery following Professor Darzi’s report. We will retain GP beds and rehabilitation facilities. The Primary Care Trust also recognises the need for an emergency reception and assessment centre but plans for this are not definite yet. Also there are talks about establishing pilot trials of prostate surgery using techniques that mean these operations could be done safely on a day case basis.

The All Party Local Hospital Group is pressing for a meeting with health ministers to hear how the pilot sites for the new ways of reconfiguring hospital services are working.

I have been to a well attended meeting in London to promote Birmingham’s claim to be European Capital of Culture 2008. It is felt that Birmingham as the first city outside the capital has a diverse multi-cultural bid that deserves to win. It is deliverable and supported by the evidence of widespread regeneration occurring around the West Midlands. Within the West Midlands there are about 400 festivals of various sorts throughout the year. We of course know of the Bewdley Festival which is so successful and is typical of such events organised by the many vibrant communities that are supporting this bid. The decision is due to be made within the next few weeks and we do hope for success for our major city which will have benefits for our whole area.

The local elections have passed with a disappointingly low turnout. This is understandable considering that these elections were only for one year but it does point to the crucial importance of real participation by the electors next May when the whole District Council will be up for election or re-election. I was pleased that despite voter apathy, Health Concern retained three seats and gained one giving an overall loss of only two seats. I am waiting to hear how our 19 councillors plan to organise the work of the Council as they are just short of an overall majority.