I ended the week with another day in Dorchester chasing things around for the constituency.

The latest discussions with the Primary Care Trust over the future of the minor injuries unit in Swanage were positive. 

I think they have been surprised by the local reaction, the concerns over the out of hours service in particular.  I have encouraged them to look at the whole issue of the services over night and not just the MIU in isolation.  That way I think it is possible to find a solution where residetns ring the out of hours number in the normal way and then will either get an emergency response, advice, or treatment in Swanage at the hospital as appropriate.  That is what I will keep pressing for.

Whilst I was in Dorchester I also popped in to see the Opportunity Playgroup.  This sepcialises in offering a service for children with special educational need and serves the whole of the county. 

They do a great job for very little money but are hoping to open as a childrens centre soon.  They need to move as the primary school need the space they are in at the moment.  They are all set to go, with money from the Government via the County Early Years team, but are struggling to agree the details with the Duchy of Cornwall whose land the occupy.  I've agreed to write a joint letter to the Prince of Wales with Oliver Letwin, if he'll agree - as I'm sure he will.

I was also please to hear this week that the County have agreed to develop Westhaven as another childrens centre.  This is part of the government's commitment for a childrens centre in every community by 2010.  We now have them in Weymouth, Portland, and Wool; one is due to open at Littlemoor soon, then Westhaven for Westham.  I am hoping that the Swanage centre can be located by the hospital.