Back from Brighton

I am back home after spending a few days at Brighton attending the Liberal Democrat Autumn conference.  The weather was dreadful with wind and rain hurling at us as we dodged between the conference centre and the fringe meetings at the nearby hotels. 

I was on the panel for a fringe meeting hosted by the Health Hotel on Living with Long Term Conditions, which was also attended by Norman Lamb, our new health minister, alongside The Stroke Association and Action for Hearing Loss.  You can check out the photos here. 

This event was chaired by Denis Campbell, health correspondent from the Guardian and was well attended by a wide selection of people.  There were a lot of interesting questions put to us on how local authorities, government and the voluntary sector are working together in the interests of patients who are trying to cope after diagnosis or a spell in hospital.  Helping people to stay at home means also having the support from occupational therapists, carers and the professionals. We must raise the profile and importance of how early intervention can prevent future problems.

There were some good speeches including Nick Clegg's final speech on Wednesday, but Danny Alexander and Vince Cable were also well received by the audience in the auditorium.  I felt this conference was very upbeat, but  the storm raging outside the conference venue reminded us all of the economic challenges we face over the next few years.