Shadow Health Secretary Meets Bournemouth East GPs
Tom Hayes, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bournemouth East, and local GPs met Wes Streeting MP, Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, on Tuesday 20 February for a roundtable discussion about how to solve workforce problems, including the national support needed by a Labour Government.
Attendees included the Chair of the Dorset Local Medical Committee (LCC) and the Deputy Chair of the Dorset GP Alliance.
At the roundtable, GPs supporting people across Bournemouth East outlined ways in which Dorset and the constituency are unique, particularly in terms of the inequalities that exist here. There was a strong, open, and constructive offer from Dorset GPs to work with Wes and Tom on solutions to the problems primary care face. And GPs welcomed the positivity and regard for primary care in Labour’s health care plans.
Wes Streeting outlined how a Labour government will build an NHS fit for the future by reforming health and care services to speed up treatment, harnessing life sciences and technology to reduce preventable illness, and cutting health inequalities.
Labour will deliver a 10-year plan for change and modernisation of the NHS, including one of the biggest expansions of the NHS workforce in history, paid for by abolishing the non-dom tax status. Above all, a Labour Government will shift towards a prevention first policy, because early intervention saves lives and saves money. That means moving treatment to communities such as Bournemouth East’s, exploring how technology can free up NHS workers to focus on care, and ensuring education develops the creativity, resilience and curiosity young people need in a modern world.
Tom Hayes, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bournemouth East, said, “As a mental health and domestic abuse charity chief executive, I know first-hand the pressures facing primary care. Brilliant local GPs and their hard-working teams are absolutely critical and their voice and expertise need to be heard as we fix local problems. I’m pleased to have brought together local GPs with Wes Streeting to develop solutions and put Bournemouth at the heart of a future Labour Government.”
Wes Streeting MP, Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, said: “The Conservatives cuts to primary care have left us with 2,000 fewer GPs than in 2015 and patients unable to get an appointment when they need one. After 14 years, the Conservatives have broken the front door to the NHS.
“GPs are having to work harder than ever, despite being tied up with unnecessary red tape. Labour will cut the burdensome bureaucracy and support GPs properly, so patients can see their regular GP each appointment. Tom Hayes has told me how important it is to people in Bournemouth East that we bring back the family doctor, and that’s exactly what a Labour government will do.
“If people in Bournemouth East want their NHS back on its feet, with thousands more GPs so they can easily get an appointment, they have to vote for Tom Hayes.”
Dr Simon Wright, Chair of Dorset Local Medical Committee (LMC), said: “GPs from Bournemouth East were delighted to meet with Mr Tom Hayes and Mr Wes Streeting on 20/2/24 to discuss the current pressures facing general practice. The group focussed on constructive and supportive dialogue aimed at addressing retention of GP colleagues within the workforce. It was clear this is a complex issue. Many practical proposals were put forward, with a genuine openness from Dorset GPs to assist in ‘piloting’ any schemes that would benefit Dorset patients, and assist in reversing the dangerous level of attrition currently affecting the GP workforce.”
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting met with Tom Hayes and Bournemouth East GPs to discuss workforce issues.