The Covid-19 pandemic had a severe impact on our NHS. Despite the incredible hard work of the frontline workers who saved so many lives, the effects of delays and cancellations continue to have an impact on those needing help now. The best way we can support the NHS is by increasing the capacity of our doctor’s surgeries and hospitals, improving efficiency to reduce the backlog and ensuring anyone who needs medical assistance can receive it.
Already, the wait list for those waiting over two years for treatment has been virtually eliminated. The number of people waiting 18 months is also down over 91% compared to during the pandemic. This is a very positive start, but more can and must be done.
The Bolsover Constituency has benefited from investment of over £71 million into the NHS within our region. This includes £17.6 million for an emergency care village at Bassetlaw Hospital, £30 million for community diagnostic centres across Derbyshire and £24 million for the urgent care centre at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.
This comes alongside record national spending for the NHS and greater investment in our biotech and medical research sectors to improve access to new and emerging treatments. The benefits of these additional investments will impact all within our region, and I look forward to continuing to work with these healthcare providers to best support my constituents.
I share the frustration felt by many of my constituents that we continue to see appointments cancelled due to strikes. This is putting vulnerable people at risk and causing unnecessary harm and even loss of life. I support the Government offering a fair wage rise to doctors, based on advice from the independent NHS Pay Review Body. This group, which is separate from the Government, takes into account current NHS pay, inflation, Union demands and the Office for Budget Responsibility’s assessment of what Government can afford without stoking inflation.
The British Medical Association has admitted that it won’t accept a fair deal from Westminster even if it is equal to the deal accepted in Scotland because it values party politics more than saving lives. I support our doctors but also recognise that in the UK, a Foundation Year 1 junior doctor already out-earns the average UK worker. I would like to see these doctors get a larger pay rise once we can afford this but clearly at this time a 35% pay rise is unaffordable and unrealistic and strikes must come to an immediate end.
