The failure of the Government to win its appeal in the High Court is a triumph for local people, both hospital users and staff alike.  There can be no doubt that this has been a huge waste of public money and that the Secretary of State for Health should never have gone to appeal following what was a clear-cut decision by the High Court.

He is now seeking to introduce new powers to future Trust Special Administrators so that they will be able to destroy other local hospitals, as he had hoped to do with Lewisham.

This afternoon the Secretary of State made a statement to the House about healthcare services in London, giving Rt Hon Dame Joan Ruddock MP (Lewisham Deptford) the chance to make the following point:

“Let me remind the Secretary of State that the High Court ruled that his actions in trying to remove services from Lewisham hospital to save a separate failing trust were illegal. He then lost the appeal. Will he now stop throwing good public money after bad, leave Lewisham hospital alone, and learn to respect the views of the people who work in our hospital and those who use its services?”

Dame Joan said:

“Despite jumping up and down continuously during Prime Minister’s Questions today, the Speaker did not call me.

”I know it will be a huge disappointment to everyone that I was not able to make the Prime Minister aware of the appalling treatment his Health Secretary has meted out to Lewisham Hospital and to local people.”

Following the decision of Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, to ‘take over’ Hutchison Whampoa’s planning application to develop the Convoy’s Wharf site I have written to the Mayor to request a meeting at the first opportunity.

In the letter I said:

"I understand that you are now to determine the planning application for the above development which is in my constituency. I would like to meet with you at the first opportunity, as I have been involved in all the proposed redevelopments over the decade since the site was closed.

"You will know that Convoys Wharf occupies the site of Henry VIII's naval shipyard and also encompasses the land on which John Evelyn had his manor house and extensive gardens. As such this site ought to be an archaeological and heritage jewel in London’s crown. However it was systematically overlooked until local campaigners demanded more attention was given to it.

"It is extremely disappointing that Hutchison Whampoa has taken this step. 

"We all understand the difficulties that any company will have in seeking to maximise profit while respecting a unique heritage site. We were very hopeful that an understanding with Hutchison Whampoa had been reached with myself and local people on the inclusion of very substantial heritage projects that had already attracted significant support from national heritage and environmental organisations. Furthermore we believe that Lewisham Council has faithfully represented these local aspirations and concerns in their deliberations over the outline planning application.

"Five years of effort by large numbers of people have gone into this scheme and I am extremely anxious that this should not be swept aside.

"I hope you will agree to our meeting soon." 

I will be trying to persuade the Mayor to recognise the immense heritage value of this site both to local people and the people of London. The development needs to reflect Deptford’s extraordinary past while meeting local needs and fitting into the local environment.

Lynn Griffiths, the founder of the Carbon Monoxide Awareness charity, will launch the 8th National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week at the House of Lords on Monday 18th November 2013.

The aims of the week are to:

• Raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Make the public aware that all hydrocarbon fuel (charcoal, wood, oil, petrol, diesel, natural gas, LPG) appliances need to be serviced every year.
• Make home-owners aware that they can apply for a free gas safety check via their gas provider if they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
• Promote the charity's free Carbon Monoxide Android phone app and new website.
• Ensure that the public understand that a carbon monoxide alarm is never a substitute for the correct installation or servicing of any gas, oil, wood or coal burning appliance.
• Ensure that people are aware of how to fit an alarm in the correct place.

Ms Griffiths set up the charity more than eight years ago, after she and her family learnt that they had been suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning for over a decade.

Poisoning can have a devastating effect and the more people are aware of the symptoms of exposure, especially at the initial stages, the more chance we have of preventing avoidable deaths or injuries.  

People can help to protect themselves by making sure they have all their fuel burning appliances serviced every year, by having their chimney swept once or twice a year and by making sure they have a carbon monoxide alarm positioned in the correct place in their home.

The Carbon Monoxide Awareness website at www.co-awareness.org will go live on 18th November.

Today I joined other MPs and Peers in attending Westminster Flu Day, a flu vaccine clinic held in the House of Commons, in an effort to encourage my constituents to get vaccinated in line with Government recommendations.

Last year, 68.2% of people aged over 65 and 44% in the at risk groups were vaccinated against flu in Lewisham, compared with the national averages of 73.4% and 51.3%.  

Flu can be a very serious illness for certain groups of people.  I would therefore encourage all those who are over the age of 65 or in on the 'at risk' groups to visit their surgery and get vaccinated.

The NHS has a very successful seasonal flu programme, but the Department of Health is looking to improve uptake rates, particularly in those who are under 65 years of age but have clinical conditions which put them more at risk from the effects of flu.  Uptake currently stands at 51.3%, but the DoH hopes to increase this to 75%.

Westminster Flu Day is sponsored by the ABPI Vaccine Group and supported by the DoH as a way of highlighting the importance of flu vaccination.

Parliamentarians who would not be eligible for a free seasonal flu vaccine on the NHS made a £10 donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee.

Today I met with representatives of Macmillan Cancer Support to find out more about the work they are currently doing in Lewisham Deptford.

Sadly there are already 6,200 people in my constituency living with or beyond cancer and this number is expected to rise to 12,700 by 2030.

At present, Macmillan Cancer Support is supporting the Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust to improve cancer patient experience.  Work that is being done includes the funding of an Acute Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), a Palliative Care CNS and a Haematology Oncology CNS at University Hospital Lewisham.  They also support an end of life project manager.

Macmillan has also been part of a 'Pan London effort' to improve patient experience, working closely with people affected by cancer, London NHS Trusts and primary care, the Integrated Cancer Systems and NHS England.  This work has included training courses for staff, supporting efforts to improve to culture and behaviours of staff and cancer patients commenting in real time about their experiences of care.