With under a week to go until Christmas, Swindon is looking more festive by the day, but the reality is that for me and most MPs we will continue working in our constituencies right up until the big day, making visits to local organisations and meeting residents, as well as volunteering at projects such as Alone at Christmas.
This year, working with North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, we have managed to secure more than £26 million for Great Western Hospital to expand urgent and emergency care.
This record investment comes on top of £5.4 million in internal funding available to the Trust and represents the biggest ever investment to the hospital site and one the biggest that the NHS in the South West has seen.
We lobbied hard to deliver this funding and the Government has rightly seen how it will transform both emergency care and transitional care in Swindon.
The expansion of the urgent and emergency care facilities at the Great Western Hospital will mean more people can be treated closer to home, improving patient experience and ensuring staff are better equipped to manage increasing demand.
Working with Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson this year, we have secured an extra 164 new police officers for Swindon and Wiltshire. I recently met with the Police and Crime Commissioner at the Swindon Town Centre Police Hub, after raising the issue of retail crime with him. I have been informed by the Police and Crime Commissioner that the force has now increased their presence in our town centre and the new operational model that the Chief Constable is putting in place will help to maintain this presence as more officers are pushed to the front line.
In 2024 we will continue our work to turn the force around and reflecting the priorities of local residents.
In my column next week, I will continue to review my work for this year, as well as telling you more about my plans for 2024. These include continuing my work to level up the town, working to create jobs and grow our economy further, my ongoing work to improve Swindon’s schools, the ongoing regeneration of our Railway Village, my campaign for lower rail fares for Swindon, my research programme on the impact of artificial intelligence on the ethics of justice, and my ongoing work to close the employment gap for autistic people and those with other neurodivergent needs.
The festive season can be a time of joy and a wonderful opportunity for many of us to spend time with loved ones, but it can also be a stressful and lonely period for many people.
Here in Swindon, we are extremely lucky to have an army of selfless volunteers who give back to the community and help to make sure that nobody is alone on Christmas Day, and during my time as a Member of Parliament for South Swindon, one of the highlights of my Christmas has been joining those wonderful volunteers to help prepare for the Alone at Christmas event. This event takes place every year at Christ Church Community Centre in Swindon’s Old Town and includes a three-course Christmas dinner, Christmas carols, fun and laughter, and a viewing of the King’s speech. For further information please email [email protected] or ring 01793 617237.
