David Amess

Yesterday David Amess MP joined Mencap and the 11 times Paralympic gold medallist Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson to call for an increase in the number of Changing Places toilets available in Southend West and across the UK.

Standard disabled toilets do not meet the needs of all people with a disability.  There are over 230,000 people who need to use a Changing Places toilet in the UK and yet only 85 Changing Places toilets are available.

Changing Places toilets are toilets which have enough space for the person with a disability and their carers, and the right equipment which includes an adult sized height-adjustable changing bench and a hoist.  Without them people who need support from one or two carers to use the toilet or to have their continence pad changed either have to stay at home or their family carers have to resort to changing them on dirty toilet floors. 

A British Standard published earlier this year, recommended that Changing Places toilets should be installed in larger buildings and complexes such as shopping centres, airports and motorway services, large railway stations and key buildings within town centres.  However, this standard is not compulsory and that is why Mencap is calling on the Government to make the provision of Changing Places toilets in large newly built public buildings a legal requirement.

David Amess MP commented, “We all take being able to go out to the shops or to our local leisure centre for granted and yet there are nearly a quarter of a million people whose lives are severely restricted by not having the right toilet facilities. It is certainly dangerous, unhygienic and undignified for anyone to have to be changed on toilet floors and this is why I am supporting Mencap’s campaign to change thousands of people’s lives. This is why I have also written to Southend Borough Council to ask whether they will consider installing further Changing Places toilets in and around Southend West.”

·    To find the location of your nearest Changing Places toilet go to www.changing-places.org/where

On the afternoon of Tuesday 23^rd June David Amess MP presented the Senior Volunteer Hero of the Year award to Sister Conleth of Nazareth House care home, Southend-on-Sea. The award was presented at the MP’s Heroes Tea Party held in the House of Commons and organised by the Experience Corps.

Local heroes from across Britain were celebrated by their MPs at the annual awards. Sister Conleth and the other attendees were treated to high tea and cake whilst they listened to a speech of thanks for their hard work given by David Blunkett MP, the former Home Secretary. Afterwards David Amess MP presented Sister Conleth with her award and certificate of thanks before giving her and her brother, whom she brought as a guest and had travelled all the way from Ireland for the occasion, a brief tour of the House of Commons.

Sister Conleth was nominated by David Amess MP, a long-time supporter of Nazareth House, to be recognised by the Experience Corps for the countless hours of time and dedication she has contributed to the local community and specifically to the residents of Nazareth House. Sister Conleth has been Superior at Nazareth House in Southend since 2006.  She spent the early years of her religious life in catering and finance management and has since worked tirelessly to update residents’ accommodation and improve the quality of food being served. 

The Experience Corps is an organisation which recognises the dedication and self-sacrifice of older volunteers.

David Amess MP has pledged to fight for the future of newsagents in Southend West. His commitment came after it was revealed that traditional newsagents are being forced to shut up shop at a rate of more than one every day.

Developments in the news distribution industry – the businesses that deliver newspapers and magazines – have left most newsagents with no choice over who supplies them. Shop owners fear that the lack of competition will leave them with no alternative supplier and vulnerable to increased costs.

Last week almost 800 newsagents delivered a petition to the Office of Fair Trading demanding urgent action to protect competition in the news distribution industry.

David Amess MP today threw his weight behind the campaign to save Britain’s newsagents. He said, “Traditional newsagents are the backbone of our community.  They deliver a vital service and are a friendly face that many people rely on every day. It is shocking and unacceptable that so many newsagents are facing an uphill struggle to survive.  I am happy to pledge my support to the numerous newsagents which dependably serve the people of Southend West.”

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David Amess MP today warned local 18-30s about the dangers of burning in the sun after learning more about sun safety from experts at Cancer Research UK.

The Southend West MP attended the annual ‘Molewatch Clinic’ at Westminster last week where he was given a clear warning message about the risk posed by sunburn.

Malignant melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer – is now the most common cancer in women in their 20s*.  Overall the disease kills around 2,000 people every year but rates are predicted to rise.  MPs were urged to share their findings with all their constituents that getting a painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of this most dangerous form of skin cancer.**

It is vital to be aware of any changes on your skin, say experts from Cancer Research UK.  The charity advises anyone who notices a change in the size, colour or shape of an existing mole or patch of skin to have it checked out by a GP – especially if they are fair-skinned and/or have lots of moles or freckles.

David Amess commented “I was shocked to learn that experts believe binge tanning, usually on foreign holidays, is contributing to the alarming rise in this life-threatening disease.  It’s vital for people to know that wherever they are, they need to take simple measures to protect their skin by covering up, spending time in the shade (especially between 11am and 3pm) and using at least SPF 15 sunscreen.  Even minor sunburn can be a sign of permanent damage.”

“Cancer Research UK’s Molewatch Clinic has underlined how important it is to enjoy the sun safely and to avoid burning.”

Katy Scammell, Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart campaign manager, said:  “Whether abroad or at home this summer, don’t let sunburn catch you out.  Use shade, clothing and at least SPF 15 sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburn.

“Melanomas can grow anywhere on the body so it’s crucial to check all areas of your skin regularly for any unusual changes, as the disease is much easier to treat when it’s spotted earlier.

“Anyone with concerns about a particular mole, freckle or patch of skin that has changed over a period of weeks or months should make sure they speak to their GP as soon as possible.”

Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart campaign encourages people to know their skin type and use the UV index to find out when they need to protect themselves. 

It offers guidelines on how to be sensible in the sun:

- S pend time in the shade between 11 and 3

- M ake sure you never burn

- A im to cover up with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses

- R emember to take extra care with children

- T hen use factor 15+ sunscreen

Also report mole changes or unusual skin growths promptly to your doctor.

For information on skin cancer and the Cancer Research UK SunSmart campaign visit: www.sunsmart.org.uk

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For media inquiries, please contact the Cancer Research UK press office on 020 7061 8300.

Notes to Editors:

* New research from Cancer Research UK and the Department of Health (2008) http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/pressreleases/2009/april/skin-cancer

** (References: Dennis et al, 2008. Sunburns and Risk of Cutaneous Melanoma: Does Age Matter? A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis).

SunSmart is the UK’s national skin cancer prevention campaign commissioned by the UK Health Departments and run by Cancer Research UK.

§         Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK.

§         There are more skin cancer deaths in the UK than in Australia, even though Australia has more cases of the disease.

• The number of skin cancer cases is increasing year on year.  The main risk factor for skin cancer is exposure to sunlight.  Up to 90% of skin cancers could be prevented by being SunSmart.
• More than 75,000 new cases of skin cancer are registered each year in the UK but it is estimated that the actual number is at least 100,000.
• Around 9,000 cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed each year in the UK. Incidence rates of this form of skin cancer have quadrupled since the 1970s. Around 2,000 people a year die from malignant melanoma.

On the evening of Saturday 25^th April 2009, David Amess MP attended the East Division Quarter Final of the All England Theatre Festival.  Southend Drama Society won the competition against the Woodhouse Players of the Waltham Forest Festival, performing a play called ‘The Last Bread Pudding’.  The event was held at The Eastwood Studio Theatre in Leigh-on-Sea.

The contest, which was adjudicated by John Scowen of the Association Guild of Drama Adjudicators, was exceptionally well attended.  Mr Amess said:  ‘I was privileged to attend the quarter-finals of the All England Theatre Festival.  Both plays were of the highest standard and I was thrilled that the adjudicator chose Southend Drama Society as the winner. They now go through to the semi-final on 23^rd May at this same location.  I congratulate all concerned.’

David Amess MP is pictured with Frank McGrath OBE, the Chairman and Festival Organiser, along with Florrie Holland, the Chairman of Southend-on-Sea Arts Council, and the rest of the cast.

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Notes to the Editor

For more information please contact the office of David Amess MP on 020 7219 3452

On the afternoon of Tuesday 23^rd June David Amess MP will present the older Volunteer Hero of the Year award to Sister Conleth of Nazareth House care home in Southend-on-Sea.  The award will be presented at an MP’s Heroes Tea Party in the House of Commons which has been organised by the Experience Corps.

Sister Conleth has been Superior at Nazareth House is Southend since 2006.  She spent the early years of her religious life in catering and finance management and has since worked tirelessly to update residents’ accommodation and improve the quality of food being served.  Mr Amess, a long-time supporter of the Nazareth House, nominated Sister Conleth and will be delighted to present the award.

The Experience Corps is an organisation which recognises the dedication and self-sacrifice of older volunteers.

Welcome to the website of David Amess, Member of Parliament for Southend West.

If you need David’s help please write to him at the following address:

David Amess MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Alternatively you can book a surgery appointment by telephoning his constituency office on (01702) 472 391