It has been an interesting week. I took part in the debate on the Opposition Day Motion on Foundation Hospitals. 

• I expressed my concerns about the loss of common NHS pay scales for staff that risks leading to a two tier health system. 
• I also asked for clarification about arrangements for emergency services at foundation hospitals as these are not specifically mentioned in Government papers so far. 
• I requested increased integration between Primary Care Trusts and Foundation Trusts thinking particularly of chronically ill people who need close co-ordination between primary and secondary care. The current proposals appear to me to emphasise divisions.

Winding up John Hutton, MP, Minister of State for Health discredited contributions to the debate from opposition MPs while welcoming those from MPs of his own Party. 

He dismissed my questions without any answers stating that I was, as usual, just giving a list of criticisms. 

To my satisfaction, I heard the next day from the Chairman of the Health Select Committee that he had taken Mr. Hutton to task at a private meeting after the debate for not addressing my comments and questions.

I continue to enjoy my work on the Health Select Committee. 
Our report on sexual health is nearing completion. I have had an interesting tour of the facilities for sexual health and the treatment of sexually transmitted infections in Worcestershire. This is another ‘Cinderella’ area of the NHS desperately needing more resources as most genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics are bursting at the seams. 
In Wyre Forest we do not have our own GUM clinic, the nearest being in Worcester. The need is recognised but as with many developments funding is awaited. 

A possible exciting development here for which I believe funds are available is a ‘drop-in’ centre for confidential advice and support for under 25s about any issue including those related to sexual health. Such centres already provide this help in other parts of the county under the title of "TIME 4 YOU". They do not compete with services already provided by GPs and nurses but supplement these.

I was interested to attend a meeting of the local BMA Executive and to discuss with members the problems experienced by county hospital services that receive wide publicity in our local press and the Worcester Evening News. 

GPs in all parts of the county now realise that steps have to be taken to improve accessibility and availability of services and I believe that that this realisation will be converted into pressure for changes across the county and in Kidderminster that will help us all.

R.T.