On the 10th of February, I joined the Spinal Injuries Association at their Parliamentary reception to mark the first annual National Bowel Care Awareness Day.

Being able to use the toilet when in hospital is a basic right. But for many people with a spinal cord injury, they are refused the ability to do so because of a lack of equipment, training and awareness.

I hope that campaigns like this will lead to a real improvement in care in the years to come.

Women’s health after spinal cord injury roundtable

This month I chaired a roundtable on women’s health after spinal cord injury.

Women with spinal cord injuries face unique and often overlooked challenges in accessing essential healthcare. From menstruation and contraception to pregnancy, breastfeeding, and life-saving screenings, the barriers they encounter can have profound consequences for their health and well-being.

We heard from women who have felt like they had to fight to receive basic medical care. For instance, women wheelchair users often have to challenge stigma and assumptions made about them, which makes accessing services difficult.

Another major problem is access to mammograms. This equipment is often not accessible for women with a spinal cord injury; meaning that women cannot get checked and are then at higher risk of not detecting breast cancer until more advanced stages.

This must change. We want to ensure that the NHS is there for everybody; this involves improving awareness, training and policies designed to ensure healthcare services are accessible to all.

I want to thank the Spinal Injuries Association for organising the discussion and everybody who attended this important discussion to bravely share their personal experiences.

I look forward to continuing this important work and raising the matter with Ministers.

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Consumer Protection

Consumer protection is an increasingly important issue, particularly with the rise of online marketplaces, and policy must move at pace to keep up with these changes.

Therefore, I am pleased to have been elected as Chair of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Consumer Protection. We have set this group up in partnership with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) to provide a voice for ordinary retail consumers across a range of sectors in the UK economy.

We have an exciting workplan ahead of us and I look forward to raising more awareness about these issues.

British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly

I am honoured to have been appointed the British Co-Chair of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA).

Founded in 1990, BIPA’s mission is to promote co-operation between political representatives in Britain and Ireland for the benefit of the people we represent. We engage in a wide range of parliamentary activities, through bi-annual plenary meetings and ongoing Committee work.

I am excited to begin this work and help nurture the relationship between our two countries.

Casework Corner

Over the past month, my team and I have opened 502 new cases, helping people with their issues and concerns.

The most common topics raised with me were:

• Health services and medicine
• Social security and pensions
• Immigration and asylum

Please do get in touch if I or my team can be of assistance.