I set up the Leicester West Health and Care forum to improve NHS and other care services in this area. The Forum also provides direct input from local people to my work on Labour’s Shadow Health Team.

Last week at Barley Croft community centre, the forum met to discuss the support that’s provided for our city’s youngest children. The meeting included paediatric doctors, midwives, health visitors, primary school teachers, family support workers, Sure Start Children’s Centres staff and other people who work with children aged between 0-5.

We discussed the many challenges facing young children and families in this area, including nutrition, physical activity and preschool learning and development. I’ll now be taking these issues forward with a particular focus on the role health visitors can play in promoting child development.