The ‘Burgess Hill Means Business Exhibition’ was held at the Kings Centre last week, organised by the Burgess Hill Business Parks Association, 63 local businesses small and large were present making this a fantastic, vibrant and informative event. It was great to catch up with businesses and sectors, showcasing the positives of local jobs, apprenticeship and growing economy 0n our doorstep, despite the challenges in our town centre, must keep us positive about our vibrant area.
Another grim week on the roads, as we’re battling temporary lights again on the A272 into Haywards Heath. However, a new rental scheme from WSCC is now in place meaning ‘Emergency works’ are just that and people don’t sit waiting in queues for ages where nothing is being done. Fines will be given out and work is already speeding up. We need maintenance work but constant digging up with poor reinstatements is unacceptable.
Great news-every school is set to get a defibrillator. 12 young lives are lost each week to a sudden cardiac arrest and a defibrillator can make a difference. I’m pleased after campaigning on this for many years with Cardiac Risk in the Young and the BHF, our government is delivering this to every community.
The government is meanwhile vitally investing £150 million in NHS mental health urgent and emergency care services with over £2.1 million coming to Sussex.
£143 million will be used to provide new and improved mental health crisis response infrastructure-schemes such as crisis cafés, houses and hubs in the community. Other schemes receiving funding include mental health urgent assessment and care centres, crisis line upgrades and improvements to health-based ‘places of safety’ and emergency department spaces.
Plus £7 million for 100 specialised mental health ambulances.
Over £1 million investment is for Sussex and local improvements at the mental health crisis de-escalation suite at Langley Green. More details are on my website.
Meanwhile, charity Place2Be launched the Children’s Mental Health Week in 2015 to focus on this concerning area. ‘Let’s Connect’ is their campaign- from 6th to the 12th February. For information and resources for schools and families visit https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/about/