Geoff Hoon goes to Eastwood · Fri, 14th Dec · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon spent most of Friday in Eastwood to reach out to members of his constituency that are unable to travel to his office in Kirkby-in-Ashfield.

Whilst in Eastwood Mr Hoon met local residents, saw the newly refurbished library and visited the Church Street Medical Centre. He also donated the main prize for a raffle that was being held at the centre.

The raffle was to help raise money for a trust set up for Amber Sisson, a 12 year old girl who was diagnosed with Hellervorden-Spatz a few years ago. This disease attacks the nervous system and results in young Amber suffering from uncontrollable spasms. Fortunately she was suitable for Deep Brain Stimulation, a procedure where electrodes are put into the brain and counter the impulses in the brain and prevent the spasms. Mr Hoon said, 'I am delighted to help, what has happened to this young girl is very unfortunate and this is the least I can do'.

Mr Hoon also visited the newly refurbished library where he held a surgery to meet with local residents to talk about any problems that they were having. On the library Mr Hoon said, 'It is a wonderful refurbishment, a thoroughly modern library. I hope that the people of Eastwood make the most of this facility'.

Fed up residents living on a Sutton street say not enough is being done to safeguard their homes from an ongoing flooding misery...

article continued...here

Geoff Hoon visits local schools · Fri, 7th Dec · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon visited two local schools, Kirkby College and Eastwood Comprehensive to see how free maps from Ordnance Survey have had an impact within the schools.

Mr Hoon met with year 7 students to see how the maps have been used within their classes. The maps are provided by the Ordnance Survey as part of their Free Maps for 11 Year Olds scheme. The children get to keep their map and personalise it once it has been used for their studies.

The scheme has been running since 2002 nationwide. Last year over 700,000 maps were issued to 6,700 schools. The children receive an OS Explorer map of their local area, also the school receives a teacher’s copy of the map.

The Free Maps for 11-year-olds scheme aims to provide all children, irrespective of home or school circumstances, with a map of their own at the stage in their school career when it was most likely to be of best use.

Mr Hoon said, 'Resources like these are very important in our schools. I believe that this is a worthy cause and an excellent way to develop children’s understanding of their local environment and geography. I am interested in the progress of this scheme and the practical ways in which these maps have been used'.

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon is to feature in BBC2's The Daily Politics show this Friday, 14th December, having been filmed a week before.

The feature is part of a series looking at different MPs and how they spend their time in their constituency. The camera crew followed Mr Hoon around to see what an average day is like, including a visit to Kirkby College and King’s Mill Hospital.

Mr Hoon said: 'I was happy to take part. Television coverage is so strongly focused on Westminster and the national issues and not on what MPs do in and for their constituency. By doing this programme I hope that people better understand the work I do.'

Geoff Hoon Meets Local Artist · Fri, 7th Dec · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon visited Ward 5 at King's Mill Hospital to meet local artist Barry Jones who was donating two paintings to the ward on behalf of Friends of the Blind.

Mr Hoon is patron of Friends of the Blind and was more than happy to help present the pictures to the ward, saying: 'I welcome the opportunity to do something for the hospital as I greatly respect and appreciate all the work that is done here.'

Mr Jones had recently spent time on the ward and was delighted to present these two paintings to be hung in the ward’s day room. Mr Hoon and Mr Jones have known each other for some time and Mr Hoon has some of Mr Jones’ work hanging in his constituency office.

Mr Hoon also said: 'It is good to see Barry again and I am pleased that he is doing well and still painting.'

Geoff Hoon Visits New Physio Department · Fri, 7th Dec · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon visited the physio department in the new rehabilitation centre at Ashfield Health Village and also to see the new equipment they have there.

Mr Hoon was there to see the new pulsed short wave machine, the funds for which were raised by the Friends of the Community Hospital, a group that Mr Hoon is a patron of. The machine emits waves into the damaged muscle which warms it up. The heat increases blood circulation which speeds up the process of repair.

The Rehabilitation Centre is part of the redevelopment of Ashfield Community Hospital which will see the expansion of services on offer and the complex being renamed as Ashfield Health Village. This will culminate in the availability of GPs at the weekends sometime next year. The new facilities will offer in and out patient care for the local residents.

Mr Hoon said: 'I am delighted to see such fantastic facilities here in Ashfield that are available to the community in a convenient location. Ashfield deserves first class healthcare facilities and this, along with the redevelopment of King’s Mill, is proof of that.'

First Class Effort from Postmen and Postwomen · Fri, 7th Dec · 

Ashfield MP Geoff Hoon visited Royal Mail's Sutton-in-Ashfield delivery office to see for himself how postmen and women in the area get Christmas sorted.

The MP toured the delivery office on Friday December 7th at 8am to see how Royal Mail deals with the mountains of festive mail. He also spoke to hardworking staff that makes sure they deliver a first class Christmas for Nottinghamshire residents.

Mr Hoon will met Ron Hallam, Delivery Office Manager, and some of the 40 postmen and women who are responsible for ensuring that Sutton-in-Ashfield’s massive Christmas mailbag is delivered to nearly 21,000 addresses at Royal Mail’s busiest time of year.

Commenting on the visit Geoff Hoon said: 'Postmen and women do a tremendous job throughout the year. This visit has given me the chance to wish everyone at Royal Mail all the best for the busy festive period.'