We should all be able to rely on good local health services close to home to keep our communities healthy.
I was elected on a pledge to establish a new GP surgery in Melton, to improve GP provision across Rutland, and to secure a CCG commitment to invest in Rutland Memorial not to shut it down.
My campaign to save Rutland Memorial Hospital was successful, securing Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group's commitment to protect our much-loved hospital and a £1 million investment to improve local services.
£3.5 million of our successful £23 million Levelling Up Bid will also go towards a National Centre of Medi-Tech Excellence at Rutland Memorial Hospital. This new centre of excellence will see the design of the technologies of the future to assist in healthier older living, giving us first access to the new medical technologies of the future, and more jobs locally.
In September last year I was delighted to deliver the go-ahead to build a second GP practice in Melton, with the help of Councillor Joe Orson: our fight and my arguments to the NHS were successful. Potential locations for the second practice are currently being assessed, and while there's still a way to go, this is a major step forward on the road to improving local health services.
The pandemic had a huge impact on our healthcare services, but delivering the healthcare residents of Rutland, Melton, the Vale and Harborough villages deserve remains an absolute priority for me.
When we need more complex care, we deserve expert support, so maintaining and improving our hospital and social care services is essential.
