As a former Health Minister and someone with a close understanding of the incredible role our NHS plays each and every day, I am very aware of the brilliant work so many staff do – but also of how difficult the past few years have been, and the serious challenges still faced.
That’s why I continue to place great importance on regular, direct contact with staff at all levels of our local NHS – including our GP surgery managers and the Norfolk and Waveney NHS Integrated Care Board who I had the opportunity to meet again yesterday for our latest virtual forum.
Having met the group on several occasions over the past twelve months (see here and here), and visited local practices (including most recently Mattishall – see here), I am acutely aware of the realities being faced on the frontline – which I have been helping our local GPs and senior NHS staff raise with ministers and officials in Westminster. I’ve also been able to pick up my constituents’ concerns on issues, such as access to GP appointments and pharmacy prescription delays, and explore what more I can do to help deliver improvements locally.
Yesterday’s conversation saw us discuss the civil servant “tick box” culture and the associated lack of flexibility that Whitehall allows (particularly when it comes to using available funding) which so often restricts the innovation and leadership that our local NHS can deploy – especially in key fields like early intervention and prevention, which would improve the lives of so many and free up funds that could be channelled into driving forward further NHS service improvements elsewhere.
We also discussed the need for the planning system to place much greater emphasis on health and social care infrastructure and investment when permissions are being determined – something I am already campaigning on once again as part of my ongoing support of ATTCARE and their work to ensure Attleborough has the health and social care provision it needs to sustain itself now AND the new development coming the town (see more on that work here).
(Indeed, while there is already a statutory requirement within current planning legislation that, quite rightly, dictates sufficient education provision must be provided when new development is permitted. Adequate school places, with the associated investment, must be planned for prior to occupancy. However, bizarrely, this is still not the case for health and social care. We want that changed).
Rest assured, I remain committed to doing all I can to speak up for and represent Mid Norfolk – both on behalf of my concerned constituents and those working in our local NHS. I look forward to working with our GPs and wider local NHS partners on a number of fronts – and will be following up with the new Secretary of State and her team again before Christmas to share this latest feedback.
