Steve Brine MP

THIS is my first column since the general election so thank you to constituents for sending me back to Westminster for a fourth time.

Elections are never tidy affairs, but we must at least try and do things differently in future; including the forest of trees that must have been felled to print all those leaflets. There’s obviously the green angle to this but there’s also election law which exists to stop big money influencing the democratic process. The 2019 election returns will certainly be read keenly this time.

I said during the campaign that it remains priority NHS for me and one of my first constituency days of the year was packed with just that. I visited Winchester Hospital to see for myself the much-discussed changes to orthopaedics. There is no question this has been an upheaval for some staff but the move to a more planned service in Winchester has its upsides.

For my constituents, I suspect the absence of an acute service which, rightly, takes precedence over routine work will lead to less cancellations and a more reliable facility. I would welcome views from both patients and staff.

I also took the opportunity to drop into medical records at the RHCH to thank the dedicated, and often unsung, members of the NHS team. And it was also a chance to speak with the senior team at the Trust about the significant investment we have secured for Winchester as part of the Health Infrastructure Plan.

And then it was on to Southampton General where I saw the impressive new da Vinci robot for prostate surgery. Highly skilled, less invasive surgery for this common cancer is a key part of the future NHS and it was striking to hear of the improved outcomes and reduced recovery of this technology.

While on-site, I also took a tour of the new urology centre to be officially opened next month. Working with Winchester, and Salisbury, there’s a strong service locally. As I have often discussed (including since the election)with the Secretary of State, the future of district general hospitals such as Winchester is bright but our partnerships with centres of excellence nearby is to all our benefit.

You can see more, including my trial on the da Vinci robot (it was only an orange), at www.stevebrine.com/prioritynhs

Elsewhere, I am determined to keep up the pressure on my school funding campaign and the focus will now turn to helping teachers with the significant challenge around high needs provision. And I am committed to shining a very bright light on the funding timebomb sitting underneath early years’ provision.

I will be pushing Ministers to live up to their green pledges and I will be using every ounce of my experience to ensure our voice is heard in Westminster on the future of the railways. I have already told the Transport Secretary that We have run out of patience with SWR and our new all-party group meets this week.

Thank you for your kind messages and prayers after the death of my father immediately after the election. It’s been a difficult time and focus now turns to when I give the Tribute at his memorial service later this month.

Finally, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the ‘red tie’ debate in the letters page recently. Sadly I just like red ties but, for those looking for more symbolism, you should have seen my boxer shorts.

More via my website but ‘like’ my Page at www.fb.com/SteveBrineMP for more instant updates.