Last week saw the completion of my annual summer surgery tour across Banff and Buchan.
This is always a great opportunity to get out and about meeting people right across the constituency – and even more so after the previous 2 years of lockdown.
As well as walk-in surgeries in village and community halls, I have also been knocking on doors across the constituency and coming to you to hear your concerns.
It was also great to see the return of the Peterhead Seafood Festival last weekend.
While out and about, I heard about a number of local issues, relating to individual issues and access to public services, which I am already progressing and looking forward to helping deliver positive outcomes.
As always I am available for individual surgeries most weeks by appointment.
You can contact my office on 01261 818744 or at David.duguid.mp@parliament.uk to book an appointment.
One issue I heard across the constituency was regeneration of local play parks. Play parks are an important social centre for families and children in our local communities and it is vital that these facilities exist and are well equipped.
After the negative effects of social isolation during the pandemic, any opportunity to get children and families back playing together outdoors should be seized.
I am currently in discussions with UK Government ministers about how a new levelling up fund for playparks will work in Scotland, and I will keep local communities updated on this.
Last month I hosted a public meeting at the Baden Powell Centre in Turriff to discuss healthcare issues in the area.
Since that meeting, and during my constituency wide surgery tour, I have of course received even more correspondence on this topic.
My intent is to facilitate a constructive dialogue with the health service providers and the communities they serve to work together towards positive outcomes.
I recently met with the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) to discuss the concerns raised.
I am grateful to the AHSCP for taking time to meet with me and for providing some answers to the concerns raised.
I also pleased to hear from them recognise many of the issues – particularly the complexity of new processes and lack of effective communications with patients.
I look forward to working with them to improve those issues and I will keep residents updated on the progress of my efforts on this matter.
In Peterhead, I note that changes have been already been made including the removal of the e-consult system which was the focus of many constituent’s concerns.
I am also very aware of constituents’ concerns with rising costs, particularly of energy, mainly impacted by the wholesale cost of gas and shortage of supplies exacerbated by the ongoing recovery from global pandemic lockdowns and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
I know that these price rises are worrying for all of my constituents and support is available.
Everyone’s personal situation is of course different but for general advice and support, I have place some helpful information on my website: www.davidduguid.com/rising-costs