WHY am I standing as the Labour Candidate for Parliament in Wyre Forest?

Because I believe very strongly in the NHS and I want to belong to a party in Government which continues to properly fund the NHS and ensure protection of its services.

Labour has more than doubled investment into the NHS, waiting lists are down dramatically and standards and quality have improved immeasurably. There are thousands more medical and nursing staff working in new hospitals across the country.

At Kidderminster Hospital, we have a new £26 million Treatment Centre. Referral times for patients with suspected cancers are seen within two weeks. The Millbrook Suite is fantastic, and I thank the League of Friends for their brilliant contribution over many years.

I am a Friends member and a weekly hospital visitor to the GP Community Ward at Kidderminster Hospital. I see for myself each week that patient care is the only priority of staff. They do a fantastic job – thank you to everyone.

I know that many people in Wyre Forest do not like politics to be brought into issues of health care. But alas it is a political issue because funding must be properly provided to give us the service we need. Labour has done this and will continue to do so. Labour has promised to safeguard the NHS and the Tories have not promised to match Labour’s commitment on funding.

Health Concern has given up calling for A&E to be returned to Kidderminster. They recognise that A&E provision has to be centred at Worcestershire Royal where fully-trained accredited consultants are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I very much want to see more services provided at Kidderminster Hospital. Over the last three years I have campaigned in our three main towns with a petition for a Radiotherapy Unit, Birth Unit, and Palliative Care Beds.

I want a local Radiotherapy Unit for cancer patients who currently have to travel to New Cross, Wolverhampton. I want a Birth Unit because a thousand local women a year have to go to Worcester. I want a Palliative Care Bed Unit to provide nursing care for the terminally ill.

Over 10,000 local people have signed my petition – why hasn’t Health Concern or the Conservatives supported this?

I’m asking for your support and to trust the Labour Party who introduced the NHS in 1948.