From time to time, local people raise issues that are important to them, or their families or friends. This can range from a simply writing a letter to the local newspapers, through to seeing people like me, all the way to organising big events to rally support.
Pancreatic cancer is a disease that affects many and its outcomes tend to be less than ideal. My mother succumbed to this a couple of years ago, but at 85 years old, had had a pretty good innings and was otherwise fit. But it does not only affect the elderly. Just after he retired from the local police service, my friend Paul Crowley was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Paul is a remarkably upbeat individual so in not letting it get him down, he has dedicated his energy to raising awareness of this frequently fatal condition. The highlight of his efforts was a family day at Stourport sports centre's cycle track last Saturday, where anyone could come along and cycle to raise money or just for fun. It was a terrific day and at a personal level, I certainly benefited from cycling around the track for the best part of an hour.
Paul is a very special individual. He has spent his working life dedicated to keeping us all safe from crime in the local area, and when adversity hit him after he retired, his optimism meant that he saw his cancer not as a curse, but as an opportunity to raise it as an issue, to help other sufferers. I never fail to be amazed at the dedication of people like Paul, and we are lucky as a community to have people like him.
Paul's day also helped raise health issues in general and it was ironic that his day came just after the announcement of the closure of Cookley ward in Kidderminster Hospital. I have met with the chairman of the Acute Hospitals Trust to find out more and I certainly take the closure of 17 beds very seriously indeed. What is absolutely clear is that this is not closure of the hospital by stealth, but is a response to the fact that the ward is not safe. However, as I have argued before, the process of the review of the acute services in the county is taking far too long and must be resolved soon. But Kidderminster will ultimately benefit from the review.