AT a recent parliamentary briefing on digital hearing aids, I learnt that all NHS audiology departments will be routinely fitting digital hearing aids by April 2005.

A National Day Nurseries Association reception informed me of the work of their members. The Children's Minister spoke of her backing for these nurseries, and of plans to develop a National Early Years Enterprise Centre to support child care providers.

I met the chairman and chief inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) at the request of two constituents who were experienced lay assessors with the previous inspecting organisation.

We heard that CSCI plans unannounced inspections and to obtain the views of residents of the institutions being inspected.

I welcome these changes in emphasis and hope that the expertise of former lay assessors will still be used.

I was pleased with the meeting that I instigated between Sir George Alberti, Government Tsar for emergency access, and local health managers and clinicians.

This will be reported elsewhere but it was satisfactory to hear everybody present giving the same message that the more services for emergencies that can be organised locally, the better it will be not only for ourselves but for the rest of Worcestershire.

I was particularly pleased that the executives of the ambulance trust are pushing for increased emergency services here and will very soon have the first emergency care practitioners trained and looking for posts.

I believe we can realistically expect local improvements. We must present our case as a pilot trial for an innovative Urgent Care Centre Plus, a unit in between a nurse-led minor injuries unit and a major A&E department.

I have requested a meeting with the minister with responsibility for emergency care to discuss this.

The concert given by Wyre Forest Young Voices with their inspirational conductor and professional support was as exciting as usual.

It was exciting to hear the burgeoning talents of the soloists from whom we can expect great things.

There was a huge crowd in Bewdley for the switching on of the festive lights by the mayor and Mike George.

The Kemp Hospice "Light up a Life" Christmas Celebration in the Swan Centre was as rousing as usual, this year, with the Lickhill Middle School Steel Band and the Salvation Army Band.

The huge advantage of being an Independent MP is that I can support the Government if they are right and criticise them if they are wrong.

During the Queen's Speech debate on health issues I congratulated health ministers on achievements within the NHS, especially their aims to keep the NHS local.

I criticised them for the use of private treatment centres in preference to those within the NHS, for the uncertain future support for Patient Forums, for the loss of Saturday morning GP surgeries and the ineffectual function of Standing Committees.