Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenge

Congratulations to all the schools, colleges, scouts and cadets who took part in this year' Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenge across Dartmoor. I have witnessed the blisters, the sunstroke, the soaked kit and struggled to lift the packs that the teams carry across the moor over 2 gruelling days.

My special thanks to the many volunteers who give up countless weekends to make this such a life changing experience.

Community Hospitals Association Annual Conference, Leicester

I attended the CHA annual conference to speak about the importance of community hospitals and the vital role they play not only in rural areas like the South Hams but also in Torbay. We all know how much communities value the opportunity to be treated closer to home and the role that these community hospitals can play in helping to avoid admissions to larger more distant hospitals. It is important that local people and clinicians champion their cause within commissioning groups but I will also be doing what I can at Westminster to make sure that they can develop and improve services for patients. If you would like to let me know about your experience of our local hospitals please get in touch.

Kilns at Brixham

These kilns are part of Brixham's industrial heritage and are unique in the South West, because they are built at right angles; most twin kilns were built side by side. Unfortunately proposed plans to widen the road have put the future of these kilns under threat.

Shoalstone Pool

Shoalstone Pool is a gem on Brixham's sea front, built in 1896 and the focal point for the community during the summer. It is also a much loved tourist attraction and manned by a dedicated team of volunteers. I hope Torbay Council will allow sufficient funds to keep it going for the summer season to allow the volunteers time to develop a more stable long term funding.

Action on Hearing Loss

Today I met with Stephanie Bromley, Ted Leverton, and John Rickett, Information and Outreach volunteers for Action on Hearing Loss together with Karen Squire, Senior Community Support Officer to discuss the impact of hearing loss. There is a particular concern about inadequate training for care assistants working in residential and nursing homes. Residents and carers alike, desperately need better support for using and maintaining hearing aids and skills for lip reading. Volunteers from Action on Hearing Loss are keen to help, and on their website you are able to check your hearing

Brixham Open Meeting

Thank you to everyone who came to the public meeting at the Berry Head Hotel in Brixham to discuss a range of local and national issues, in particular the concern of many people for Shoalstone Pool. I hope to be back to see the Pool on Tuesday 8th May at 10.30 am. Please join me there to show your support.

View from Berry Head Hotel

Baltic Wharf

It was fascinating to visit Baltic Wharf and to see such a thriving boat yard employing between 150-200 people. I was shown the restoration work to the Lady Cable, Dunkirk war veteran and numerour other projects. During the redevelopment, it will be vital to retain this flourishing boat yard as part of Totnes's heritage and to maintain so many high skilled jobs for the town.

Totnes Surgery

Another busy surgery in Totnes; if you would like an appointment to discuss your concerns, please ring 01803 868378

Totnes Museum

Congratulation to Richard and all the volunteers at the Totnes Museum on reuniting the Lee rings after 400 years

Heron Valley Cider

It was fascinating to meet Tasha, from Heron Valley Cider to learn about the organic natural alchemy that goes to producing real cider and of course to see how it is actually produced in this beautiful Devon valley near Loddiswell.

Photograph by kind permission of Simon Jenkinson of PanOpti

Surgery and Open Meeting at Hookhills

Thank you to Hookhills and Broadsands Park Community Centre for holding an Advice Surgery at their premises. If you would like to meet to discuss your concerns at one of my surgeries around the constituency please telephone 01803 868378.

The surgery was followed by an Open Meeting and some of the issues discussed were school dinners, VAT and the South Devon Link Road which is due to open in December 2015.

Littlehempston Cycle Path

It was good to meet with Devon County Council and the many representatives from the community to talk about Littlehempston Cycle Path.

Staverton Leat

Thank you to Ann and Nigel Amherst for taking the time to demonstrate the changes that have so badly affected the beautiful Staverton Leat . I was very concerned to hear from local residents about the serious effects Environment Agency's decision to reduce the flow has had on plant and animal wildlife. I am relieved that Mr Brogden from the Environment Agency attended the meeting to listen to the concerns and I will be following this issue up on my return to Parliament.

Quartzlock

I was fascinated to meet with Clive Green and the team at Quartzlock to discuss improving technical skills and education and to see what this local business is achieving by improving the accuracy of GPS.

National Association of LINks Members

I met with Ellie Pang who is a member of NALM ( National Association of LINks Members) to discuss how local Healthwatch could operate in order to best represent the public's views on health and wellbeing boards and in working with the CQC.

Women’s Health Facility at Torbay Hospital.

I was delighted to join Paula Vasco-Knight, the Chief Executive of Torbay Hospital and Debbie Stark, Director of Public Health to open the new Women's Health Facility at Torbay Hospital. The enthusiasm of the staff for their new facilities was very clear. Congratulations to all the team for achieving such a transformation.

I was delighted to be able to catch up with Debbie Stark the Director of Public Health following the opening to discuss a range of public health issues within the Bay.

South Hams Citizen Advice Bureau

Thank you to Nick Dilworth from South Hams CAB for coming in to discuss the ongoing pressure on the Tribunal Service. The CAB is looking forward to moving to a larger site at Follaton House and has benefitted from extra funding from the Ministry of Justice, but I would like to see greater recognition of the work that the CAB contributes on behalf of clients attending tribunals as well as greater use of their skills within the work programme.

Totnes Community Hospital

I was delighted to revisit Totnes Community Hospital with Steve Collings who is the joint Matron for Tavistock and Totnes Community Hospitals. It was good to see the hospital so well used and going from strength to strength.

National Apprenticeship Services

I am grateful to Fiona Parsons for her update on the National Apprenticeship Service. 700 apprentices were taken on in 2010/11 in the Totnes constituency but the service is keen to attract new employers and increase the number of apprentices being taken up by those under 24 . Any employers interested in finding out how they can take advantage of this scheme and in particular those who have not previously employed an apprentice can contact Fiona direct at Fiona.parsons@lsc.gov.uk

Dartmouth Surgery

I met with constituents today at Dartmouth Guildhall to discuss their concerns on local and national issues. If you would like an appointment please telephone 01803 868378 or email nina.smith@parliament.uk

Dartmouth Hospital

I enjoyed catching up with Tracey Cunningham and the team at Dartmouth Hospital. I would challenge any hospital to have a better view from its day room!

Respect the Aged Breakfast

Thanks to Kate and Peter Ryder for hosting this tremendous event at Alf Resco , it was a great opportunity to meet local octogenarians in the relaxed and friendly environment of Alfs.

Hoodown Workshops

What a pleasure to open the Hoodown workshops for Dart Harbour and to catch up with Rob Giles, Neil Hockaday and their exceptional team from the harbour board. Hoodown will now be able to maintain the 330 pontoons on the Dart as well as their many other maintenance tasks and provide more employment opportunities locally.

Totnes Surgery

If you wish to make an appointment to see me at one of my surgeries, please ring 01803 868378 or email nina.smith@parliament.uk

Victim Support

It was fascinating to hear about the range of services provided by the staff and volunteers at victim support. Not just to individuals who have been affected by crime but also in the witness service to courts. I heard that they would also like to be able to provide a more formal support to police witnesses, who may sometimes struggle especially when new to this aspect of their role.

Victim support are always keen to hear from anyone interested in becoming a volunteer; they provide full training and the opportunity to work with an enthusiastic committed team.

Devon Drugs Services

I met with Michelle Rowan, service director at the Devon Drugs Service to discuss the change from a maintenance to a recovery focused agenda and meet with service users to hear about their views and the long term stigma many face even after they have turned their lives around.

From the service perspective I heard the view that they would prefer funding to come from national rather than local budgets.

Totnes Surgery

It is good to be back in Devon. I try to hold surgeries in a number of locations around the constituency but as Totnes is the most central more people opt to come here than anywhere else. If you would like me to hold a constituency surgery or an open meeting in your village hall or other local venue please get in touch; 01803 868378 or nina.smith@parliament.uk

South Devon College

It is always a pleasure to visit South Devon College. Today I met students studying for level 2 and 3 courses on children and young people and levels 1 through to foundation degrees in health and social care for a discussion about the Health and Social Care Act, training and regulation for Health Care Assistants and expanding the Assistant Practitioner role.

Devon & Cornwall Police

I met with Superintendent Glen Mayhew, Devon and Cornwall Police to discuss local policing issues. It is helpful to be able to raise issues on behalf of individuals and hear about local policing issues.

Alcohol Strategy

This was an especially busy day following the release of the Alcohol Strategy with many opportunities to welcome this ground breaking and far reaching strategy to tackle the violent crime, antisocial behaviour and disease associated with problem drinking.

South Devon Marine

I am grateful to Robin East for organising a meeting with South Devon Marine representatives from across Torbay and South Devon to discuss the challenges facing our marine industries.

In the South West alone there are more than 2700 marine dependent companies which turnover around £1.3bn per year.

Issues raised included the impact of high and unpredictable fuel costs, bureaucracy and additional costs relating to the need for an increasing number of licences.

Disability Focus

I was delighted to open the new premises for Disability Focus at Dartington. This charity has grown to support 700 disabled people and their carers in managing their direct payments. I was able to meet Disability Focus' first client, still singing their praises and enthusiastic about the independence that managing her own budget had given her. The ability to employ a personal assistant can be greatly valued especially where charities like Disability Focus help to manage the complexities of becoming an employer.

Congratulations to Victoria Conway, Derek Knowles and all of the dedicated team of staff and volunteers

St John's Primary School

A wonderful start to the day to join parents & volunteers at St John's Primary School, Bridgetown for the opening of the new school library. Thanks to Rotary for their support for this project and to all the volunteers who do so much for the school.

On a beautiful day it was great to see the children enjoying their 'exciting writing' outside in the sunshine and to tour the school with their enthusiastic headmaster, Andrew Squire.

Healthwatch

It was wonderful to see so many people from across the Bay at the Riviera Centre for the conference to discuss how local Healthwatch will shape the future of healthcare in Torbay. If you are a patient or carer and wish to get involved contact Pat on 01803 295277 or email torbaylink@makesachange.org.uk.

Healthwatch will be taking over from LINks and will be able to influence how services are designed and provided, they will also be able to inspect hospitals and care homes where concerns have been raised.

Meeting with the local Postmasters

I met with many local sub postmasters at Galmpton to discuss the issues facing our vitally important Post Offices with the proposals for changing to post office locals. This model could make it very difficult to attract new people into the service of their communities once existing sub postmasters retire or resign.

Galmpton Open Meeting

Thanks to everyone who came to Galmpton for a wide ranging and fascinating discussion including localism, planning, the Health Bill, gay marriage and International Aid. It was great to see so many people prepared to turn out on a sunny afternoon to discuss National and local political issues.

Totnes Surgery

Another busy surgery at Totnes. If you would like an appointment to discuss your concerns, please telephone 01803 868378 to arrange a suitable time.

Dementia Awareness Day

I visited Harberton to meet with the Devon Senior Voice and representatives across the County on Dementia Awareness Day to discuss how the Health and Social Care Bill could improve opportunities for influencing how care is delivered to those with dementia.

Devon Community Hospitals Leagues of Friends

Our Community hospitals are immensely valued and it was a great pleasure to  speak at the AGM of the Leagues of Friends. Their volunteers raise hundreds of thousands for equipment, building work and improving comforts for patients.

                                     We were able to discuss the Health & Social Care Bill and the issues                         facing community hospitals.

Open Meeting

Thurlestone Parish Hall Open Public Meeting. Thank you to Thurlestone for hosting this open meeting which was very well attended for wide ranging discussions on the Health Bill, cancer diagnosis, the economy and many local issues.