Paul Blomfield Former MP for Sheffield Central
Health and care dominates my week, and many people’s lives, but as I head down to Westminster the headlines are again full of allegations about the conduct of leading Tories despite Rishi’s promise to introduce “integrity, professionalism and accountability”.
Tomorrow I’m chairing the first meeting of the APPG for Young Carers and Young Adult Carers, which I set up recently with the Carers’ Trust. We’re hearing from the Children’s Commissioner and giving young carers from across the country the chance to share their experiences and tell us how they could be better supported. Later in the week I’ll be meeting Carers Trust, and joining a Carers UK event on carer’s leave following my active support for the Carers’ Leave Bill last year.
This week’s session of the Health and Care Select Committee, to which I was appointed recently, is focussing on waiting times in accident and emergency departments and reports of rising numbers of ‘excess deaths’, a key part of the NHS crisis – and back in Sheffield on Friday I’ve meetings with Sheffield’s Director of Public Health and NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.
Also this week I’ve meetings regarding the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students, which I co-chair with Lord Bilimoria, Universities UK International, and Sheffield’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Centre. I’ll also be continuing to promote my recently launched inquiry into the impact of the cost of living crisis on students.
On Thursday I’ve a meeting of the UK Trade and Business Commission, which is looking at the UK culture sector and what it needs from future trade deals, and I’ll be attending Sheffield’s vigil for Holocaust Memorial Day (which is also being streamed online) also be catching up with local Labour members at our monthly in the evening.
On Saturday I’ll be campaigning in Penistone and Stocksbridge with our great new parliamentary candidate Marie Tidball, and on Sunday I am looking forward to joining the local Jewish congregation at the Kingfield Synagogue for their annual civic service.