Today, I met up with Kate Scribbens (new Chief Executive of Healthwatch Surrey), and Matthew Parris (Evidence and Insights Manager). Healthwatch Surrey was set up to give patients a voice in local policy-making.

At our meeting, we discussed a recent Healthwatch Surrey survey on patients views around the sharing of records - and the balance of expectations between wanting efficient services, and concerns around safety and confidentiality.

We also discussed local GP practices, and the critical challenge of ensuring surgeries provide an effective appointment-making process whilst also conveying a reasonable sense of expectations to patients. Healthwatch Surrey will feed their findings in to the work Surrey County Council and the local Clinical Commissioning Groups are doing in both of these areas.

I have been buzzing around locally over the last fortnight. Amidst the various highlights, I caught up with Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning Group, which coordinates and commissions local health services in Elmbridge. I reinforced the value and importance of providing support for local GP surgeries, and providing additional health services in the community - to take pressure off the major hospitals like Kingston. I registered the particular importance of this for their strategic review of local community hospitals - which will cover Cobham and Molesey hospitals.

I also caught up with Walton Charity Chief Executive, Jackie Lodge. We had an interesting discussion about local cost of living pressures across the borough, including around childcare availability and affordibility, affordable housing and the cost and reach of local public transport. Walton Charity have commissioned some research into this, which is welcome. It is certainly an issue for many on low and even middling incomes - not to mention key public sector workers we rely on.

Finally, for all the media portrayal of the tensions between government and the unions, I met up with Nick Lang, head of department at Hinchley Wood School and a NUT representative - a guy I have always found I can have a really good, insightful and constructive conversation with. Nick wanted to raise changes in the curriculum - especially around the Ebacc - and concerns around anxiety and depression amongst students generally. I talked through what the government is doing, and also took away some points to follow up on.

I always think of the Saturday just gone as the 'Super Saturday' of the local calendar, because there's always a string of fantastic community events on. This year was no different, with Claygate Flower show and Molesey Regatta both blessed with glorious sunshine - despite all the forecasts.

I'm afraid I was over-booked this year, so I couldn't make the regatta. But, Claygate flower show was simply amazing, an increasingly popular village event that draws an incredible turnout. Each year, there is something different. This year, I had the privilege of handing out the awards for the children's fancy dress competition. Chairman Barry Fitzpatrick and his dedicated team really pulled off an amazing event. It's a brilliant family day out, and it was a special pleasure to enjoy the show with Erika and Peter (see below on the Flinstones' train ride!).

After the flower show, we hot-footed it over to East Molesey for The Foley Amateur Boxing Club summer party and awards. I love training at The Foley (based in Weston Green) and try to do my best to support their shows. It's a great club with a really strong ethos. The trainers, led by Paul Dawson and Gary Ball, give up a huge amount of time, as does club secretary Bev and club chair Lee Martin. After an excellent season, it was an honour to hand out the well-deserved awards (pictured below).