Welcome to this week's newsletter.
The Government have published the NHS Workforce Plan. This is the first time the long term plan for our healthcare service - ensuring we have enough doctors, nurses and other healthcare professional to meet the demands of our aging population. The plan not only commits to hiring new staff, but also promotes retention of the current workforce.
A new 'Find a Grant' service has been launched on the Government website. This will make the process of finding and applying for grants much quicker and simpler for interested organisations and individuals. You can take a look here: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/
This week in Parliament, I supported the Government's plans to maintain access to cash. While there are now many ways people can pay, a lot of people still rely on cash when shopping. That is why it is important that banks are forced to ensure that there are ways people can withdraw cash.
I also went along to the Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast, joined by a couple of local clergymen from Crewe. Thank you both for coming along!
Finally, a new batch of PMQs tickets are now available. Please do get in touch with me if you would like them.
Have a great weekend.
NHS Workforce Plan
Find a Grant Service
Access to Cash
Prayer Breakfast
PMQs Tickets
Traffic Report
NHS Workforce Plan
I have always told the Government that in my experience the single biggest thing that makes life difficult for NHS staff is rota gaps and short staffing. I have consistently spoken to Health Minsters and Treasury Ministers and even Prime Ministers about this.
The NHS and the Government have just released the first-ever Long Term Workforce Plan, aiming to train record numbers of doctors, nurses, dentists, and other healthcare professionals.
Over 15 years, we will recruit and retain hundreds of thousands more staff to meet the challenges of a growing and ageing population.
The government is also investing over £2.4 billion to fund additional education and training places.
I know it isn't a quick fix, but we already have more doctors, nurses and other staff than ever before. The issue is that demand keeps going up. But this long term plan should help us get on top of it. We are already spending record amounts on the NHS, but this agreed expansion in workforce is game changing.
Click here to find out more: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2023/06/record-recruitment-and-reform-to-boost-patient-care-under-first-nhs-long-term-workforce-plan/
Find a Grant Service
The Government has launched Find a Grant, the game-changing UK-wide digital service for government grants.
Finding grants just got easier! With Find a Grant, you can access a free central hub on GOV.UK to discover and apply for government grants effortlessly. No more hunting through multiple websites!
But that's not all - this service levels the playing field and promotes fair competition. In a pilot run, organisations in the north of England received 43% more funding.
Over 200 schemes worth £5.3 billion have already been advertised, and more are on the way. The service is expanding to ensure all eligible grants are available in one place.
Explore government funding opportunities now via: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/
Access to Cash
While there are many digital ways in which people can pay nowadays, I know that a lot of people - particularly the elderly and most vulnerable in our society - rely on free access to cash.
That is why I supported the Government's Financial Services and Markets Bill this week. This will give the financial services regulator the power to ensure that major banks and building societies preserve access to cash.
Digital payments are a quick and convenient for many businesses and consumers, but it is important that we ensure that no one gets left behind in a rapidly changing world.
Prayer Breakfast
This week I went along to the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast with Rev Oliver Igwe and Rev Canon Ralph Powell who serve our communities locally. I'm not religious myself but I see as an MP how much support and help people involved in local religious organisations provide to people. It was great that they could both come along!
Prime Minister's Questions Tickets
A new batch of tickets for PMQs have now become available for dates in September, October and November. If you would like them, please get in touch with my office at kieran.mullan.mp@parliament.uk. Its first come-first serve - so be quick!
Traffic Report
The following are road closures for the week ahead as reported by Cheshire East.
Prunus Road, Crewe - until 21st July
Flag Lane, Crewe (Between Bridle Road and Castle Street) - Until 7th August
Delamere Street, Crewe (Between Flag Lane and St Mary's Street) - Until 7th August
Mill Lane, Oakhanger - Until 31st October
Buck Lane, Hough - until 3rd July
Pit Lane - 27th June until 5th July
Flowers Lane, 26th June until 26th Nov
Smithy Lane - Until 1st Nov
Primrose Hill - Until 21st July
Rope Bank Avenue - Until 7th July