The NHS is very important to me, and I know it is very important to Northampton North residents. I recently went to Berrywood Hospital to meet the Chief Executive and Board members of NHS Northamptonshire, where we discussed the NHS in our County.
I make a point of meeting with NHS staff whenever I can, usually visiting Northampton General Hospital staff on Christmas Day for example. I have enormous admiration for how hard staff work in the challenging field of healthcare, and appreciate how essential they are to the wellbeing of Northampton North residents.
The NHS faces a number of challenges over the coming years, with population longevity improving, and advances in medical treatments. As people live longer the NHS has more work to carry out than ever before. That’s why this government is investing more and more money into the NHS - an £8 billion increase, meaning that government spending on the NHS now accounts for 18% of all government spending. Only pensions receive a higher percentage of government spending.
As MP for Northampton North, I work to try to ensure that the NHS in Northampton receives its fair share of this funding, and that this money is spent wisely on what local residents need. Talking with directors and executives at local hospitals enables me to do just that, as well as giving me the chance to hear what they want from central government. I will keep fighting to ensure that Northampton North is served well by the NHS.