Claire Sully, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for the new Bridgwater constituency which includes Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge, has called on MP James Heappey to “do better” and improve his Government’s “poor record on funding the NHS.”
She has welcomed the improved CQC rating at Burnham and Berrow Health Centre and has called on the government to do more to deal with the NHS funding crisis which she claims makes the work of doctors and other medical staff increasingly tough.
She says: “The new ‘good’ rating is a tremendous endorsement of the hard-work and professionalism of the doctors, nurses and other staff at the centre who go above and beyond.”
“I’m so pleased. That said, I’m sure many will roll their eyes at the attempt of the outgoing MP, James Heappey, to jump on the health bandwagon, by suggesting his own involvement helped bring this new rating about.”
“Mr Heappey will know that the government he supports has been the single biggest obstacle to improving health services for the public, both in Burnham and beyond. In 13 years of underfunding, outsourcing, bed closures and acute unit cuts, poor recruitment and increased bureaucracy, the public of the Burnham area has been forced to suffer longer waits to see medical practitioners, both for GP and hospital appointments, as well as reduced critical care response times and often chaotic conditions in hospitals and A&E centres.”
“This Tory government seems complacent about this, which is yet another reason to vote them out at the next election and vote for a party that will work towards a fairer, more caring society, the Liberal Democrats.”
Her comments come after MP James Heappey welcomed news of the CQC’s inspection.
Mr Heappey said: “I’m enormously grateful to the team at Burnham and Berrow Medical Centre for the speed with which they’ve embraced their new management and the appetite they’ve shown for turning the practice around.”
He adds: “Their hard work and commitment has been rewarded with this remarkable improvement in the latest CQC report. It should not be underestimated the speed at which this has been achieved as an overall rating of Good seemed worlds away this time last year, with closure of the practice a real possibility.”
“I have worked closely with Symphony and met with staff at the practice throughout this transition and seen first hand the hard work which has gone in to providing a service the people of Burnham-On-Sea and the surrounding area deserve.”
The MP adds: “Recognising there is still work to be done, I will continue to engage with both Symphony and the ICB to make sure the level of service continues to improve, but I am so pleased to see this stark improvement recognised by the CQC.”
