A few months ago, many of you will have received from me a survey concerning the provision of health and care services. We received hundreds of responses, which I have been following up since. I now want to report back to you on what I have done.

I have met with three organisations to discuss the most common findings of the survey: Blackpool Victoria Trust’s Chief Executive Aidan Kehoe, NHS Blackpool’s Chief Executive Wendy Swift and the team at the Blackpool Carers Centre. My discussions were based

At the hospital, I raised the following issues:

• Ensuring that the dignity of patients is maintained and that mixed sex wards and toilet facilities are eradicated.
• Improvements are made to hospital parking facilities.

At NHS Blackpool, I discussed:

• Local public health priorities and how to reach out to those who most need help but are often those hardest to reach.
• Accessing GP services, and the appropriateness of a target-driven culture.

At the Carers Centre, we spoke of:

• The problems with the benefits system that make it so hard for carers to claim the benefits to which they are entitled.
• The ways in which young carers can be identified and supported.
• The need for GPs to identify carers and consider their special health needs.

These are just some of the issues raised. With a background in health policy, I am committed to improving the quality of NHS healthcare and social care in the area. I know those I met with are too. That doesn’t mean there won’t be the occasional hiccough when things go wrong, as they sometimes do. But if I am fortunate enough to be elected your Member of Parliament, I promise that you will have a diligent and effective advocate on your behalf.