View from Westminster, 29th December

Christmas Visits

The air was certainly damp on Christmas morning but at least there was no snow deep and even. For this I was grateful as I had to drive over to Dawlish for 9am. The roads were still a bit icy but nothing like the previous two days so I arrived at the Palm Court Nursing Home on time. The Dawlish Mayor was not doing Christmas Day visits so I was joined by the Town's Deputy Mayor, Helen Humphries. Palm Court has a lovely location on Marine Parade overlooking the sea and as the sun shone down that morning the residents enjoyed a spectacular view.

We had a long chat with several residents, some waiting for a family visit, some waiting to be taken out and several who would share Christmas with the other residents and staff. In many cases there is no close family and in one particular case I met a gentleman believed this would be his last Christmas and was very upset that his family had not let him spend it with them. The point of my visit is to raise people's spirits but sometimes in such circumstances this is sadly an impossible task.

My last visit of the morning was to the Croft Lodge Nursing Home on Haldon Avenue in Teignmouth and I arrived as residents and family went in for lunch. There was certainly a lot of good cheer here and some tasty-smelling food that was making me feel very hungry!

Dawlish Hospital Visit

Later in the day I visited Dawlish Hospital, again accompanied by Helen Humphries. Having given out boxes of chocolates we went from bed to bed chatting and joking. One issue that concerned me was that the one single bed unit was an internal room! I am sure this was never designed as such and is an issue I will raise with NHS Devon. We lost bed space at Teignmouth Hospital because it was not needed. If it is required then that space must be put back. Internal rooms are simply not acceptable.

On my second hospital visit to Newton Abbot I was joined by the Town's Mayor, David Howe, who was very happy to chat to patients with me. The Hospital is so new this is its first operational Christmas! It is designed so every patient has a window even in the four-bed wards. No cupboards here. We met patients in the two lounge areas with their big widescreen televisions. It is an excellent Hospital whatever others might imply.

Of course, not everyone copes with being away from home on Christmas day and gentle words rather than jokes were more appropriate at times. One particular lady recovering from a stroke cried as she told me she wanted to go home. With some kind, reassuring words and a prayer she will hopefully recover quickly enough to do so soon. I know of the difficulties faced by stroke patients; my father had a stroke in February 1978, and before the year was out he had further strokes and died on Christmas day. But I have also seen stroke survivors. My father-in-law had his first stroke which left him partially disabled at the age of sixty-six and he lived another happy thirteen years.

A Walk in the Sea

The milder weather was perfect for the traditional Boxing Day walk in the sea in aid of the RNLI. Having done it five times I am happy to exempt my body from the deep freeze experience and even happier to judge the fancy dress. There was another excellent turn out with dozens of fancy dress teams making the event a colourful rite, from Santas to cavemen, batmen to fairies (men and women). This fantastical lot were cheered on by many who simply turn up for support, such as local Councillors. Cllrs Terry Falco and David Cox went in the sea in their swimming trunks. A great event viewed by thousands!

Fox Hunting

One Boxing Day tradition that has now been stopped is fox hunting. There is a strong campaign to bring fox hunting back and its supporters are happy to use and abuse any event they can to support pro-hunt parliamentary candidates. Certainly visitors of point to point events over the week can be left in no doubt who they should vote for.

I will not support a return to fox hunting with hounds. I can see no reason to do so. Whilst some Tory candidates see this as a cheap harvest of a few rural votes they will find strong opposition even in their own party, for example from Ann Widdecombe who fought the vote in the Commons.

She should be in the Lords (she is standing down as an MP) when the vote comes to the House and as it is not a Conservative manifesto pledge it will not get through the upper House whatever parliamentary hopefuls promise on the doorstep.