Charity shop proves a great success

SALISBURY'S newest charity shop has had such a busy first fortnight that it is fast running out of stock to sell.

The Trussell Trust shop in High Street urgently needs more donations of clothes, shoes, bags, gifts, books and toys.

Although Salisbury's charity shops are flourishing, the Charity Retail Association is calling on more people to support them by donating stock or volunteering.

MPs have been getting behind the Choose Charity Shops campaign and on Friday, Salisbury MP John Glen handed over a sack of stock to Trussell Trust staff.

Operations director David McAuley said: "The Trussell Trust is seeing a huge increase in demand for its services and this shop is providing vital income to help more people in crisis in Salisbury.

"We hope lots more people will come along, have a browse and drop off some donations – it's a really easy way to make a difference."

Article from the Salisbury Journal

Diabetes UK

Yesterday, I was glad to welcome the launch of the 'State of the Nation' report by Diabetes UK, that highlights the problem many people across the country with diabetes face every day - including several of my constituents.

Following on from a successful JDRF lobby event two weeks ago, with respect to very different type 1 diabetes, I was keen to further my understanding of how the very different type 2 condition affects the wider population differently, and the event highlighted that just half of those affected are getting the basic checks and services they need to manage their condition. 

There have been exponential increases in preventable complications that highlight how previously funding has been directed at reactive treatment rather than proactive prevention. We need effective treatment, and with commissioning now delivered to those who are best placed to determine this, best practice guidance in one area can be shared between groups and implemented on a larger scale, for the benefit of patients. 

Salisbury District Hospital a National Leader in Orthopaedics

Salisbury District Hospital has once again demonstrated its outstanding capacity for providing some of the best services in the country. The Orthopaedic staff have today won a prestigious national award from leading UK health professionals that highlights they provide highest levels of care. 

The figures show that between 200 and 250 patients are admitted to Salisbury each year with a broken hip, and 85% of those receive an operation within 36 hours - compared to the national average of just 62%. The Trust meets all six standards in 85% of cases, making Salisbury the second best performing hospital in the country in this area.

Even more remarkable is the dedication displayed by the team to improving standards: it was an internal programme of radical improvements prompted by comparison to other hospitals that instigated change. It is cases like this that have underpinned the reforms we have made to the NHS - recognising that it is always those on the frontlines of patient care who know how best to run the care they administer, and this fantastic achievement demonstrates precisely that.