MP says healthcare provision concerns continue to be raised
Brian Mathew has written to the Health Secretary to share the worries of people in his constituency
Melksham and Devizes MP Brian Mathew has written to the Health Secretary to raise healthcare concerns that continue to be raised with him.
Mr Mathew is pushing for improved local services, including a Minor Injuries Unit at Melksham Hospital.
In his letter to Yvette Cooper, he says the unit would help ease the burden on those without easy transport access and reduce A&E waiting time pressures at hospitals in Salisbury, Bath and Swindon that serve patients from Wiltshire.
The Lib Dem says other issues repeatedly raised with him include GP waiting times, GP Provision in new developments and NHS dentist waiting times.
He says many people are waiting "far too long" for an appointment with their GP, while the NHS dentist waiting times is a "crisis that continues to cause real harm".
Worries about the number of major housing developments that have been proposed or are under construction in his constituency without additional infrastructure for healthcare.
He said locals are "rightly concerned" that healthcare infrastructure aren't being planned or funded alongside housing growth and says the Department for Health and Social Care need to work alongside planning authorities to ensure healthcare services aren't an afterthought to developments.
He's also asked Ms Cooper for a meeting with her or the relevant minister to discuss the emergence of private equity-backed companies becoming more involved in healthcare, with cases in his constituency.
He said: "I am hearing real concern from both staff and patients about the impact of this ownership model - from changes to working conditions and decision-making, to loss of continuity and trust in services that were previously run on a more accountable basis.
"I believe that this warrants closer scrutiny and I would welcome the chance to discuss it directly".