Liberal Democrats slam government for not prioritising GP access for residents

Last night Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats moved a motion calling on the government to release funding and prioritise new GP surgeries so that Bedford Borough residents can get better access to GPs. The motion was passed with unanimous support from all parties. Councillors from Labour, Green, Independent and even the Conservative Party all voted for the Liberal Democrat motion slamming the Conservative government for its health infrastructure policy.

The motion was presented to Full Council following the news that the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) area would be missing out on eight trainee GPs because the region lacked sufficient GP estate space. At the same time, it was also announced that 30 GP expansion schemes would not be going ahead across the BLMK area. For Bedford Borough this means that GP expansion in Queens Park, Wootton, Harrold, Shortstown and Wixams will not be going ahead.

Portfolio Holder for Adults Services Councillor Dean Crofts proposed the motion. Cllr Crofts said "Our national health service is in crisis. In our own region 41% of our residents wait for over one hour for an ambulance to arrive. 65% of our residents wait over 6 hours at A&E - with some hospitals using corridors and waiting rooms to treat patients. 58% of our residents are waiting over a week for a GP appointment. Yet locally, we cannot recruit new GPs due to a lack of space.

"We cannot thank hospital staff, staff in GP surgeries, Doctors, GP's, Pharmacists, social care workers, carers and medical workers within our BLMK ICS area enough for the incredible job that they all do in extraordinary circumstances.

"If as an area, we cannot get enough funding to develop and increase our primary care estate, to match our housing growth, then the waiting times in A&E are only going to get longer and longer. We need the government to fund the additional £3 million per annum it would cost across the BLMK area for the 30 schemes to go ahead so that residents of Wootten, Wixams, Queens Park, Shortstown and Harrold get the GP services they deserve."

De Parys Councillor Henry Vann added "I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who backed the Liberal Democrats' campaign to save Putnoe Walk-In Centre and to extend its contract for a further year into 2024. But that is only for a further year. That's not sustained ongoing investment. It may be the case that the NHS has the funding, but it is crucial that money is spent in the right places and I think that's the issue here."

Mayor Dave Hodgson has called for a fair deal for Bedford Borough residents from the government on health, you can see the video here. You can join the Liberal Democrats call by signing their petition at www.bedfordlibdems.org.uk/GPShortage.