Posted on November 25, 2011 by Phillip Lee

The month of August at The House of Commons is used by MPs and members of staff to take a breath before taking on a new year in Parliament.  The “Recess” at Westminster is a time that every Member needs to refresh their thoughts and review events from the previous sitting year. It is a time which we can spend to recharge and meet our friends and family. More importantly, however, this time of year gives us the opportunity to concentrate on our campaigns, work on community projects and prepare for parliamentary debates for the Autumn.

I am presently focussed on the difficult situation Heatherwood Hospital is in, which faces financial problems and substantial internal restructuring.  The importance of this Hospital for the local community is something I fully recognise, however we have to make the best decision to provide the best possible healthcare in the long-term for my constituents.  

In this respect, I believe that in order to make our healthcare plans sustainable, we have to adapt our views and perception of a hospital and ideal healthcare.  Any new, modern hospital will need to provide the highest quality care for a population in excess of 650,000 people and would need to be within easy reach from community hospitals and surrounding towns. Therefore, a new hospital site located on the M4 servingBracknelland Wokingham constituents, as well as theThamesValleyas a whole, would be the best way to guarantee excellent acute healthcare provision in the region for the future.

As a GP practising locally, I have a deep understanding of the healthcare services that are currently offered in my constituency as well as the challenges that any Government faces in providing efficient healthcare in the future. I strongly believe the solution to our problem lies in the need to satisfy our growing demand for healthcare by providing a centralised site for acute and emergency care, combined with local community hospital services. Currently patients presenting to Heatherwood have to be referred to other sites around 40 minutes or more travelling time away to receive appropriate care. I believe that a new location with combined services would substantially reduce these travel times, improve Bracknell Constituency’s healthcare provision and, more importantly, save lives.

As Britain’s temperatures peak and transport us into a holiday mood, I strongly believe that for the health and wellbeing of our community, this is the best time to recharge and spend time with family and friends. I will be celebrating the end of a successful term by taking a week off to relax by the sea.

(Published in the Bracknell News August 2011)