THE initial excitement of arriving at Westminster and the intense press interest is now settling down.

It means I am tackling the routine work of the constituency and the relevant debates and divisions in the House itself.

Having to make up one's own mind on some motions is quite difficult as shown by recent votes on MPs' pay and allowances. I voted for, in my view, a very sensible amendment that MPs should not vote for their own salary increases but should rely on a review body in the same way other professions do.

Having voted that way I was told in fact I was voting for a bigger pay rise than we were going to get in any case.

When I voted against an actual pay rise I was told that was very easy to do because we all knew we were going to get the pay rise anyway. One just cannot win.

The learning process continues with seminars on parliamentary privilege and the law and another on the functions of select committees.

At home, I have had an informative meeting with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce.

This was another meeting with an important local organisation to continue gathering information.

I went to the preview of the Bewdley Festival to be held in October. As usual this will have wide appeal with appearances by a range of famous performers and personalities.

The summer fete at High Habberley Nursing Home was well attended on a fine and hot afternoon.

I have had a useful meeting with local GPs which, again, is part of my background work in deciding how to take the hospital issue forward.

To arrange meetings with other professionals, particularly groups of nurses, is proving more difficult but I am working on this.

Several rumours are circulating about some of the services that remain, or are to be developed at the hospital, and having written to the chief executive of the Acute Trust, I am very pleased to lay to rest two of these rumours.

The planned renal unit is on course and the chief executive expects it to be operational "around Christmas this year."

She also assures me there is no truth in the rumour the Minor Injuries Unit is to close for the night from 8pm.

Surgeries are now running. Please make appointments through 01562 753333. The office fax number is 01562 639109.