It has been a good fortnight.

• First came the news about the proposed developments at the Lucy Baldwin Hospital.

Instead of being sold off for housing as was expected, it is proposed to be retained for the elderly with mental health problems. Rumours already are rife that the day hospital will be demolished. My information is that its suitability is recognised and it will be retained. Also staff fear being sacked although it was my understanding that they would be deployed elsewhere just for the period of rebuilding necessary for the hospital's extended functions. I have asked for clarification of these issues.

• Then we heard that problems at the new hospital in Worcester are recognised and rightly blamed on the closure of beds and the A&E department here.

The acting Chief Executive of the Acute Hospitals Trust is seen as a breath of fresh air by the Chairman of the Medical Staff Committee and so we can hope for improvements to the county's services and to the scope of our hospital services here so necessary for the county as a whole.

We also know that the hospital site has been saved for health use so there will be room for developments with appropriate car parking that will relieve the Worcester site as more patients are seen and treated here.

The Health Select Committee continued its inquiry into inequalities in maternity care. We are looking at the services available to mothers who are, for example, disabled, belong to ethnic minorities or have no fixed address who are sometimes unable to reach maternity care early or regularly enough during their pregnancies.

Also we completed the detailed report on a study we have carried out into the problems associated with sexual health. This investigates relationship and sex education for young people, looks at contraception, unwanted pregnancy and impotence and goes on to study the increase in the incidence of the sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS and the more common infections like Chlamydia which can have serious consequences. This report will hopefully lead to a Government response and improvements in a serious situation.

The Criminal Justice Bill produced another back bench Labour revolt. This is a warning to the Government that it cannot always assume obedience from all its MPs and therefore that it might even have to modify some of its plans for instance over Foundation Hospitals! There was a complete contrast following the debate on the Bill to support the entry of further nations into the European Community. Much to my surprise, a division was called. There followed the almost unique experience when MPs of all parties entered the same lobby! The vote was unanimous in support of the Bill!

R.T.