Giles Watling, MP for Clacton, has pledged his support for the Love Essex NHS campaign, which brings together MPs from all corners of the county to celebrate the work of the NHS and encourage positive dialogue about the organisation.
The Love Essex NHS campaign has been organised by Southend MPs James Duddridge and Sir David Amess, and has grown with the support and interest of other local Essex MPs, who were keen to promote positive messages about the NHS such as:
- The investment of £14.7m in the redevelopment of Clacton Hospital, as part of a wider funding package across Suffolk and North Essex worth £87m.
- Plans for a brand-new state of the art medical school to train the next generation of doctors due to be opened in Chelmsford this year;
- An increased workforce: there are now 213 more hospital doctors than 2010 and 279 more nurses than 2010 based at NHS Mid & South Essex Hospitals;
- Nationally, £2.4 billion a year which will be ear-marked a year for GP services by 2020/21;
- A record £11.4 billion being invested in mental health funding;
- Ensuring best value for taxpayers, through tough new financial controls being introduced to cut down on waste in the NHS, including introducing caps for agency staff and management consultants, and introducing central procurement rules;
- An additional £2 billion for social care over the next three years to help ease pressures on the NHS by supporting more people to be discharged from hospital and into care as soon as they are ready.
James Duddridge MP said:
“I have been thrilled by the response of my colleagues to the Love Essex NHS campaign. We all recognise that we need a Health Service that is fit for the 21st century and is sustainable. There are so many negative voices around the NHS, insisting that it is failing, when it is an institution that we should be proud of. The Essex MPs are united in our unanimous support for an amazing Essex NHS and will soon be presenting the Department of Health with our suggestions for positive improvements, rather than seeking to talk the NHS down.”
Sir David Amess MP said:
“In common with millions of other people I am a beneficiary of the service and support which we receive from the NHS. There is no system quite like it anywhere in the world as I found during my 10 years as a member of the Health Select Committee. We are particularly blessed with a fine hospital in Southend. I will continue to work with my Parliamentary neighbour, James Duddridge, and other local MPs to ensure that we continue to enjoy the best possible healthcare from our local hospital.”
Giles said:
“No one can deny that these measures are to be celebrated. Essex NHS is to be treasured. My entire family have benefited from it and I will always supports its development. I look forward to continuing to work with local colleagues to promote the positive improvements within our NHS.”