Therese Urges Local People to Get Involved in HealthWatch
Therese is urging local people to apply become a director of new body, HealthWatch Suffolk, which launched in April. Healthwatch gives people in Suffolk a real influence over decisions about health and care services in the county - It is the eyes and ears for patients. The board will have a major role to play in deciding HealthWatch's strategy and provides a great opportunity to help make a difference. Therese said: "In light of the recent performance of the Ambulance Trust, previous issues on hospitals and the new structures for the NHS, this is a golden opportunity for local people to represent concerns of patients across...
Therese Urges Residents to Sign-up for Big Lunch
Therese is encouraging local residents to come together and enjoy the Big Lunch on Sunday 2nd June. Since its launch in 2009, the lottery backed Big Lunch has taken place in communities up and down the country enabling neighbours to get together in friendship and fun. Therese said: "I would urge all residents to sign up and get involved in the Big Lunch. In the last couple of years communities across Suffolk have come together to celebrate the Royal Wedding and Diamond Jubilee. The Big Lunch is another great opportunity to gather together and celebrate our own community." Therese is pleased to have been invited to join the celebrations at...
New Ticket Machines Launched at Woodbridge & Saxmundham Stations
Greater Anglia has completed a programme to install new automatic ticket vending machines at key locations on the EastSuffolk Line between Ipswich and Lowestoft. Therese attended the official launch at Woodbridge Train station this morning which will mean for the first time passengers can purchase their train tickets before they travel. Therese said: "After discussing with the Chief Executive of Greater Anglia last year the need for people to buy tickets at these busy stations, I am delighted that new ticket machines are now ready for use at both Woodbridge and Saxmundham. This is a much needed facility for passengers who can now take...
Therese Backs Bill for EU Referendum
Therese has today welcomed the Conservative run Government's commitment to enshrine in law the requirement for anIn/Out referendum on our membership of the EU before the end of 2017. The Conservatives will back James Wharton MP's Private Members Bill due to be discussed in Parliament on July 5th. Therese said: "Earlier this year the Prime Minister outlined his commitment to offer an In/Out referendum on our membership of the EU and I am delighted that he has now decided to enshrine that commitment in law. If the Bill is successful the referendum will have to be held before the end of 2017." Therese added: "There is a need to...
Therese Backs Queen’s Speech for Jobs & Growth
Therese has today welcomed the measures outlined in the Queen's speech which prioritises growth in our economy and the continued reduction of the deficit. It sets out the Government's legislative programme for this Parliamentary session including Bills to curb immigration, cap care costs, strengthen consumer rights and remove the burden on business. Therese said: "We are introducing measures to help businesses create jobs by cutting the cost of recruiting new employees. National Insurance bills will be reduced each year by enabling every business and charity to claim a £2,000 Employment Allowance. The measures outlined in the Queen's...
Diabetes UK Roadshow in Felixstowe
Last week Therese attended the Diabetes UK Healthy Lifestyle Roadshow that was taking place in Great Eastern Square, Felixstowe. Therese said: "Proactive events like this are a reminder that preventing disease or at least discovering it earlier is better than late diagnosis. It was a successful event with a steady queue of people waiting to be checked" "Last time I checked, I was fine but I am trying to make changes to my lifestyle. I already cycle a fair amount in London but I will be onto ebay to get a folding bike."
Therese Attends Business Liaison Meeting
Therese joined her Suffolk Parliamentary colleagues last Friday in a meeting of the Federation of Small Business Liaison Group. Broadband was on the agenda for the Ipswich meeting with business organisations and Therese was given an update on the ongoing project. Therese said: "Many residents will already know that 85% of Suffolk will have super-fast broadband by 2015, all residents will have a minimum of 2MB/s and we were told that 90% will see an uplift of at least 10MB from their current speed. Of course, not everyone can be upgraded at the same time and it will not be done neighbouring parish by parish but in chunks across the county....
Upgrade to Ely is Key to Getting More Freight onto Rail
I met Rail Minister, Simon Burns alongside colleagues from Norfolk today to stress the importance of upgrading Ely Junction. It is essential that the work due to commence next year creates a smooth interchange across East Anglia. It may be a long way from Ipswich and Felixstowe but opening up this junction is key to increasing capacity and getting more freight traffic onto rail. Talking of which the project from Network Rail to boost capacity on the Felixstowe to Ipswich line has passed the feasibility study. It will now go on to the next stage in which they will consider options and consult with industry stakeholders. Once the...
Therese Welcomes Action Plan but Wants More Detail on how it will be Implemented
Therese has today welcomed the publication of the Ambulance Trust's action plan to turn around performance and improve response times. Therese said "I welcome the publication of the action plan particularly the recognition of past problems and the commitment to recruit more staff and their deployment in more double staffed ambulances." Therese added: "While it is good to see long list of potential improvements, there is little detail on how they will make it happen or when. For example at the moment under half of all stroke patients get to hospital within an hour. How and when will this change? I want more detail that we can track to...
Highways Agency Promises to Tackle Traffic Chaos on the Orwell Bridge
Following last month's A14 Summit meeting co-chaired by local MP's Ben Gummer and Therese, the Highways Agency hascommitted to implement measures to minimise collisions and speed up the clearing away of accidents on the Orwell Bridge. In a letter to Therese, the Highways Agency sets outs a number of actions it plans to take to improve traffic management on this key stretch of the A14. While they are still finalising their analysis of a report it commissioned, the Agency is considering other measures including reducing the speed limit to 60mph and stopping HGVs overtaking on and near the bridge. The Agency is also reviewing its own response...
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Thank you for visiting my website. It is my privilege to serve as Member of Parliament for Suffolk Coastal. When Parliament is sitting, I am in Westminster Monday to Thursday and in Suffolk on Fridays and weekends. I hope you find the information useful and please do get in touch using the contact form or email me (details below).
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Constituency: The National Hall, Sun Lane, Woodbridge, IP12 1EG
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E-mail: therese.coffey.mp@parliament.uk
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