This online surgery is of great benefit to older members of the community including isolated and hard to reach groups including those within residential care homes involved with our Moose in the Hoose outreach project. By using the online surgery, some of the frailer residents can voice their concerns in the comfort of their own homes.

Lothian MSP George Foulkes visits ACE IT at Caledonian House

The new website www.yourlothiansmsp.com includes the first fully integrated and interactive electronic surgery – allowing George to talk with his constituents from Livingston to Loanhead and Pilton to Penicuik in the same two hour session. At the end of each conversation, constituents are automatically emailed with a transcript of the conversation they’ve just had, allowing them to hold George to his promises.

The website, built by Edinburgh University student Thomas Graham, also includes a campaign spotlight page, allowing constituents to submit their own content regarding issues of concern in their local area. George Foulkes also endeavours to update his blog “For Foulkes Sake” on a weekly basis – telling stories from his 35 years in elected politics with a modern twist. The website also downloads the latest headlines from the Evening News and weather forecasts for the Lothians daily.

George introduces the new website to ACE IT Surfers

Commenting on his new website George Foulkes said: “In an increasingly busy world, I felt it was time politicians caught up with major advances in technology and accepted that holding surgeries in their constituency office or local community centre every Friday afternoon just doesn’t suit some people. As far as I can tell this website is unique and the first of it’s kind.”

The Surfers investigate the interactive elements of the new website

“I really wanted my website to have a genuine community feel, offering space for my constituents own campaigns and concerns, as well as my reports from parliament. Launching the website here, with Edinburgh’s silver surfers further demonstrates that the internet is a fantastic tool for people of all ages to use and enjoy.”

George's team was delighted by the evaluations gathered by the surfers

www.yourlothiansmsp.com is fully accessible and secure. George is also registered under the Data Protection Act.