In my last column, I mentioned some of the fantastic investment local NHS services are receiving from central government. Since then, government has announced a £3 million surgical assessment unit for Queen’s Hospital to speed up the hospital treatment of Havering residents. The new surgical assessment unit will be able to see ten extra patients at a time to prepare for theatre and will mean more people can be treated quickly, speeding up flow through hospitals and reducing frustratingly long waits for treatment.
In other health news, the government has published a new a cross-sector National Suicide Prevention Strategy, which sets out the ambition for suicide prevention over five years and to reduce self-harm. I know every suicide is a tragedy which affects loved ones and families up and down the country, and we hope this strategy will build on the recent introduction of local suicide prevention plans and suicide bereavement services. Readers will be aware that I am a minister in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and I am pleased that our Online Safety Bill will soon be law which further tackles content encouraging self-harm online. This landmark legislation also strengthens protections for our children online and ensure better provisions for online farms particularly affecting women and girls, including domestic abuse survivors. The new St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub in Hornchurch will provide facilities for mental health provision alongside a range of other services via integrated care.
For other local provisions, I am delighted that tennis courts in Harold Wood Park are benefiting from a share of a £30m of Government funding to boost access to grassroots sport and get more people active. The funding is provided via a partnership between my Department and the Lawn Tennis Association to refurbish and improve tennis courts across the country. The courts in Harold Wood will be refurbished alongside courts in Haynes Park, Lodge Farm Park and Raphael Park elsewhere in Havering. The refurbishment of Harold Wood courts began in August and is expected to be completed by mid-September. Finally, my Department has also announced over £60 million of new funding to support public facilities with swimming pools across the country. This package will safeguard swimming pools’ futures and I have highlighted this opportunity with the Council.