I WAS delighted to learn this week that the expansion of the Great Western Hospital is moving on to the next stage, with the GWH Foundation Trust purchasing five-and-a-half hectares of land next to the hospital.

This has been made possible thanks to £30 million of Government funding to expand current services and meet rising demand. Both myself and fellow Swindon MP Robert Buckland pushed to deliver this funding, directly lobbying ministers – including the Health Secretary Matt Hancock. The Government has rightly seen how this will transform both emergency care and transitional care in Swindon, and it is fantastic to see work progressing.

Last month the King George V play area in Haydon Wick was refurbished and updated to make it more accessible for children with disabilities. The grounds were resurfaced, a sensory panel was added and a basket swing was installed.

The addition of the new equipment was very much influenced by Benjamin’s Smile, led by Becky Maddern. Having struggled to find parks suitable for her son Benjamin, Becky was inspired to campaign for more disability-friendly play parks. I was more than happy to support Becky’s campaign, and contacted every parish council in Swindon to ask that they include accessible equipment when updating play parks.

Becky has led a fantastic campaign, highlighting a very important issue which doesn’t just affect Swindon. As Minister for Disabled People, I have been raising this with my colleagues across Government, as I feel there needs to be stronger advice from the government when it comes to updating play parks and making them more accessible. In May, Becky and I will be meeting with Local Government Minister Luke Hall to raise the issue directly and discuss how local authorities and parish councils can be supported in making play parks more disability-friendly.

Following last week’s brief spell of warm weather, I have had a number of residents contact me to raise the issue of the rubbish left behind by people enjoying the sunshine outside. It is such a shame that the actions of a selfish, lazy minority blight our communities.

With this in mind, the Great British Spring Clean will be taking place from May 28 to June 13. The event aims to encourage communities to come together and tidy up our streets, parks and benches. People are being asked to ‘pledge to pick’ and set aside time to pick up litter in their area. I know lots of residents and groups are already signing up, and I am very grateful to them for doing so. If you would like to get involved, you can find out more by visiting keepbritaintidy.org.

On a final note, residents may be aware that under-30s will be offered an alternative vaccine to the one produced by AstraZeneca, due to reports of some patients experiencing side-effects. It is important to stress that an incredibly small number of people report negative reactions after taking the vaccine, and the benefits of the vaccine vastly outweigh any risks. The latest course change, as Professor Van Tam described it, is due to an abundance of caution rather than any serious safety concerns. All the evidence shows that the vaccines are working and will be the best route to re-opening the country – so please, get yours when the times comes.