My latest column for the Leicester Mercury is about what must be done to ensure every child has the chance to fulfil their potential. You can read it here.

I sent a letter signed by a cross-party group of 23 MPs from across the East Midlands to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens, calling on them to stop the closure of children’s heart surgery services at Glenfield Hospital.

It also put pressure on them to urgently set up a meeting between NHS England and University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust so that Glenfield’s plan to deal with even more surgical cases can be discussed.

While the consultation on NHS England’s plans closed on 17 July, I will keep fighting to save this excellent unit. Click here to read the story on my letter in the Leicester Mercury, read coverage on ITV Central here, and watch me discussing the letter on BBC East Midlands Today here.

On Wednesday 12^th July, I was interviewed on BBC East Midlands Today about why I’m opposed to plans to change NHS Continuing Health Care in this area. Following my campaign with local patients groups, I’m pleased that Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and West Leicestershire CCG have decided to think again about these unacceptable plans. I will keep up the pressure to ensure any new proposals put patients, and not cutting costs, first. Watch my interview here.

Over the last few months I have been raising serious concerns about plans to change NHS Continuing Health Care in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. These proposals would have forced people out of their own homes and into residential or nursing homes just to cut costs, causing huge distress to some of the most vulnerable patients and their families.

I joined patient groups to fight these unacceptable plans and am pleased that Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has responded to our pressure and decided to put the plans and hold and think again. I will continue to work closely with patients, families and the local CCG to make sure any new proposals deliver proper patient choice and high-quality care and support.