The health and wellbeing of constituents is a central concern for me.
Whether it be a walk to a local park, a jog after the daily school run or getting your annual vaccinations - health is inherent and integral to everything we do.
As a Kensington resident myself, I am more than aware that more can be done to improve our health and wellbeing.
That is why I have launched Health First Kensington, my approach to a healthier, environmentally conscious and more active Kensington.
Join my campaign for a Kensington that prioritises our:
HEALTH
Backing Further Investment for Kensington's Health Provision
Above: Chatting with staff at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington
I will continue to secure investment for Kensington's health provision, whether it be improved diagnostics, infrastructure or staffing resources.
In 2020/21 Government provided £1.4 million to upgrade A&E departments:
At Charing Cross this included reconfiguration of side rooms to create additional capacity for Mental Health patients.
At St Mary’s Hospital this included reprovision of office spaces, relocation of mental health rooms in Adult Emergency Department and development of MRI office spaces to clinic rooms.
At Hammersmith Hospital this included expanded GP practice space.
In 2022/23 Government provided £6.9 million to tackle backlogs in cardiac elective recovery. This includes a catheterisation lab and the replacement of two CT scanners on the Hammersmith site. This will support more than 1,000 scans over the next year.
At St Mary’s Hospital Government provided £1.8 million for the development of an endovascular hybrid theatre, that allows surgery and state of the art imaging to be undertaken at the same time in a single operating theatre This means a team of vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists can work together to carry out endovascular procedures, treating problems with blood vessels without the need for open surgery.
I continue to actively campaign for additional resources for deployment here in Kensington.
Backing Investment in Active Living
Above: Discussing the positive benefits of sport with stakeholders in Kensington
I recognise the value of an active lifestyle. One way to stay active is through active travel. As well as being greener, active travel helps to reduce pressure on public transport and the road network. Active travel is estimated to bring a £36.5 billion boost to the economy per year due to the increased high street spending and better access to employment it provides. The Government invested over £850 million in active travel between 2020/21 and 2022/23. It has also committed to spending at least a further £100 million capital into active travel over the remainder of the spending period, as part of a £3 billion investment in active travel over the course of this Parliament.
I will work closely with the Council on the next Community Sport and Activity Strategy with the previous plan (2018-23) now up for renewal. We have already seen improved investment in local sport and physical activity initiatives, for example inward funding investment into the borough including Sport England’s Community Activation Fund - Go Generation Project, Community Investment Fund REACH Project, Sportivate, Free Sport, Health Stars and Satellite Clubs to the value of over £750k. I back the call for further investment going forward.