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Weekly news from Caroline Ansell
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Welcome to my weekly newsletter!

Good morning to the e news community!

How do you like the look of my new office above?! I've not unpacked the boxes but the phone's connected! I've timed it to the Chamber - 1 minute! 

It's been quite a week in Westminster with the drama of a cabinet re shuffle but behind that, the important business of government has been progressed, this week with new legislation to keep our people and our country safe. I was delighted to see local lady, and long-time campaigner, Philippa Farrant in Parliament this week too. She and her family very sadly lost their son late last year but in his name, she is to continue to work at the heart of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Muscular Dystrophy.  What a star. 
  
This week I have had a number of local residents get in touch and I understand the concern over coronovirus. It’s important to reaffirm that what has happened at the two schools and at the business, has not identified anyone with the virus and the actions taken are only precautionary.
 
I have been in touch with the DGH to discuss what measures are in place if cases do come to light and I have also been briefed by the Chief Medical Officer for England. The advice really is that people need to remain calm and vigilant. There are confirmed cases in Brighton, which is not far away, so there could be a risk here for Eastbourne.  However, the NHS and the Government are well prepared to deal with the virus and measures are in place. It’s clear we must all do what we can to contain coronavirus. If anyone has been in contact with someone has it or is showing symptoms, they need to contact 111.
It's been a busy week!
Health care was very much at the top of the priorities when I met with parliamentary friends and neighbours, L-R: Huw Merriman MP for Bexhill and Battle, Maria Caulfield MP for Lewes, Nus Ghani MP for Wealden and Sally Ann Hart MP for Hastings. Transport and house building were all on the agenda too. It's so important to be able to lobby as a county group. I've also had a run of talks on Business Rates and what relief could be available to traders in Terminus Road, doubly hit by the immense scaffolding super structure on Victoria Mansions which has essentially put some out of sight and, the seafront road closure in the wake of the Claremont fire. Good news on that front with the imminent demolition of the building. Sad that it couldn't be saved but we must now move forward and at pace.  
From House to Home
As I write it's Valentine’s Day, and our wonderful NHS is to feel the love!
 
More great funding news came to Eastbourne last week when East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust announced it will receive £5.05 million to work up detailed plans to develop Eastbourne District General, Bexhill and Conquest Hospitals over the next decade.
 
The total investment in patient care at the three sites will eventually be around £500 million – a mighty sum by any measure.
 
The trio are in the second wave funding round earmarked for 2025-2030 in the Government’s Health Infrastructure Plan, which includes 40 hospitals across England.
 
There are already initial plans and proposals but also time ahead where I will be working closely with East Sussex MP colleagues and hospital leaders to realise the full potential of this tremendous, transformative investment.
 
The Prime Minister announced his intention to invest in our NHS in this way before the election and here is where it begins!
 
I fully agree with the trust’s chief executive that this is a major vote of confidence in it and it is very exciting news.
 
The DGH and the NHS is close to my heart and the reason I got into politics. It saved my son’s life and all my three boys were born at DGH.
 
The staff are amazing and fully deserve this vote of confidence too and they also deserve the very best working conditions and facilities to help patients.
 
Getting the support you need in our home town is important, and I’m engaging with health commissioners on local services for eating disorders, but the best facilities can also mean the NHS needs to have regional and specialist centres of excellence so that patients get the very best treatment.
 
That does, unfortunately, sometimes mean we have to make journeys to receive that care; as a ‘frequent flyer’ with my boy at world-leading Great Ormond Street Hospital, I’m only too aware of that.
 
In my first term as the Town’s MP, I started a campaign to see a hospital shuttle bus service between Eastbourne & Hastings. I’m turbo-charging that now as I seek to make the case in Parliament.  
 
Watch this space for updates but meantime, if you have had a personal experience on public transport between the Eastbourne & Hastings that shows just how fragmented and costly this can be, please get in touch with me at caroline.ansell.mp@parliament.uk
 
Happy Valentine’s!
 
  
Eastbourne Loves To Work 
Short video from Eastbourne Loves to Wortk

❤️ Eastbourne Loves to Work!
 I was delighted to attend a brilliant event connecting young people to local employment and training opportunities at the Loft Lounge, Station Street on Friday with Employment Minister Baroness Stedman-Scott. There was lots of support there for that important first step on to the job ladder!

Great buzz and great work by DWP & Eastbourne Jobcentre & partner organisations and  I will be working closely with them all.
And finally...
It's recess next week so parliament's out. I'll be out and about in Town and taking a few days off with the boys - my first since the election!  
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