This week I have had the opportunity to visit the "LifeLab" at Southampton General Hospital, which engages students from across the City with the crucial science behind the health messages in the context of, "Me, my health and my children's health".  It is a project run by Professor Keith Godfrey, who has also been in Parliament this week talking about the vital 1000 first days of a child's life.  

The visit was very timely, coinciding with the Health Secretary's speech on Wednesday on the Women's Health Strategy, where she articulated the challenges that still occur with maternal health (and mental health) and the disparities in outcome that still persist between some communities.  

This week was also the first AGM of the new All Party Parliamentary Group set up to support the work of Baroness Cumberlege's report, "First Do No Harm". The report was published several years ago and looked at damage caused by the use of sodium valproate in pregnancy, vaginal mesh and the hormone pregnancy test primodos.  I have constituents who have been impacted by all three and have long been a champion of proper redress for the victims. 

Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP

Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee