This week I had the honour of starting the annual sponsored walk in Nailsworth for Cobalt - a medical charity providing cutting edge diagnostic imaging and supporting people with cancer and other life-limiting conditions. The specific fundraising campaign is the Heart, Mind and Body Scanner Appeal.

Cobalt was founded in 1964 and has been a major NHS partner in establishing Cancer Centres and other healthcare facilities such as the Breast Clinic at Cobalt House. With a focus on research, treatment and diagnosis, Cobalt has made a massive contribution to patient care and has provided the NHS with £millions of equipment and services. More can be found out on www.cobalthealth.co.uk.

I also attended a meeting of the Cotswold Prostate Cancer Support Group this week. The aims of the Group are to support families affected by prostate cancer, help raise awareness of the disease, and to generate funds for local and national events. The Group is for the support of patients and is encouraged by Hospital Urological Team members. A useful website for men (and partners) concerned about this important sex gland is www.cotswoldsprostatecancer.org.

While listening to members of the Group talk about their experiences and concerns, I was reminded of the work of the All Parliamentary Party Group for Vascular Disease which I chair and is about to have a significant event in the House of Commons. Like prostate cancer, there is a need to raise awareness of vascular disease and to be sure that swift diagnosis is followed by planned intervention.

Increasingly, correct diagnosis of problems is the key to successful outcomes so it is right that screening and awareness‚ should be promoted where appropriate. My next visit was, however, rather less dependent on diagnosis because it was to Gloucester Royal Hospital‚s newly opened Women's Centre (January this year) and, more precisely, the Birth Unit.

Gloucestershire Hospitals offer four choices of Midwifery-led care options including, of course, the popular and further enhanced Stroud Birth Unit (Stroud Maternity Hospital). Mothers and prospective mothers can decide where to have their babies on the basis of individualised care and support. The Birth Units are excellent and I was very impressed with the facilities and staff. We can be sure that many mothers will continue to use Stroud Maternity Hospital.

If you would like to discuss the issues raised above, please contact me on 01453 751572 or visit my website ˆ www.neilcarmichael.co.uk.