Priti Patel calls for new investment in Witham health services
During a Parliamentary debate (7th May), Witham MP Priti Patel has called on the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP to secure more funding for health services across the Witham constituency. Priti highlighted the high numbers of patients per GP in the Witham constituency and asked the Secretary of State if he would: “use the Comprehensive Spending Review to secure more investment in not only GPs but Witham health services?”
In reply, Matt Hancock said: “Of the extra £33.9 billion that is going into the NHS, the biggest increase is going into community and primary care because I understand how important it is for people to get decent access to their GP services in Witham and across England.”
Commenting after the debate, Priti said: “Across the Witham constituency we are seeing pressures on primary care with the numbers of patients per GP being amongst the highest in the country. New investment from the Government is welcome but the funding needs to come to this part of Essex where it is needed. We are experiencing considerable population growth locally and new health services are needed to support growing demand.”
“Work is progressing on developing a new multi-purpose healthcare centre in Witham and I am pressing the NHS and local GPs to deliver this important new facility, as soon as possible. This centre will be one important step in providing new and better health services for local residents but the Government must ensure that more GPs are available locally. I previously helped secure investment in GP training places at Anglia Ruskin University and the Government needs to ensure that those who train in Essex work in our communities in the future.”
Extract from House of Commons Hansard 7 May 2019, Column 422:
T5. Patient-GP ratios across the Witham constituency are under pressure and the highest in the country. Will my right hon. Friend use the forthcoming comprehensive spending review to secure more investment in not only GPs but Witham health services? [910742]
Matt Hancock (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care)
My right hon. Friend is right to raise that. That money is already committed. Of the extra £33.9 billion that is going into the NHS, the biggest increase is going into community and primary care, because I understand how important it is for people to get decent access to their GP services in Witham and across England.