We all know we need for more infrastructure (from schools to shops to GP surgeries) in the constituency to keep pace with all the new housing that has been built. I have made this one of my top priorities in Parliament.
Nowhere is the need for infrastructure better seen than in the lack of new GP surgeries. By 2027, Didcot will be 42% larger than it was a decade earlier and Wantage and Grove will be 59% larger. There are thousands more houses being built in Wallingford, Faringdon and all the villages I represent. However, despite this growth, we have not seen a single new GP surgery.
I am taking action and have:
Raised this problem countless times in the House of Commons and with Ministers in various meetings, including the Prime Minister and the Housing Minister.
Led a debate focusing on the concerns constituents have with housebuilding and the lack of infrastructure at the start of this year, where I again put these concerns directly to the Housing Minister.
Joined forces with other MPs facing similar problems, and spoke in a debate alongside them about the need for more GP surgeries.
Carried out a constituency-wide Health Services Survey to give everyone the opportunity to share their thoughts about the improvements we need to our health services, especially GP surgeries, which thousands of local people responded to.
Secured a debate on our local health services during which I shared the results of my survey to make the case directly to the Health Minister that we need more and better local health services - and secured a meeting with the Minister to discuss this in more detail.
Carried out a constituency-wide Childcare Survey to give local parents, grandparents, guardians and carers the chance to share their views on how they find accessing childcare locally and what they'd like to see more of, which I shared with the Department for Education.
Backed the Prime Minister's plan to end the 8am rush for GP appointments by making sure patients are either given an appointment immediately when they call, or signposted to a more appropriate service such as NHS 111 or their local pharmacy - and the investment and extra powers for pharmacies which will free up an estimated 2 million extra GP appointments
Backed the Government's plans for a new Infrastructure Levy which will be non-negotiable and locally set in order to ensure we always have the funding we need for local infrastructure
Welcomed the progress that is being made including the fact that there were 50.9 million more GP appointments in the year to October 2023 compared to October 2019, more than 50,000 more nurses recruited since 2019, and an extra £6.6. billion being invested in the NHS over the next 2 years - but always being clear that there is more to do
You can see more about my campaign by clicking on the links below.
