Chloe Smith: I back our NHS institutions so they can improve for Norwich patients

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, today released a statement reacting to the news that Monitor have placed both NNUH and NSFT under review.

“I strongly support our local NHS institutions and will do everything I can to back the staff and management for the sake of all who need the service to improve.  I have already spoken to the Minister for Health to ask for all support for Norwich while these reviews are completed.

“It’s early days so it’s not right to point any fingers until the reviews can establish facts and recommendations.

“We have all seen how the N&N is under pressure and I hope that this review provides sensible suggestions as to how the hospital can be best supported to treat patients.  I will continue to speak regularly to hospital management to do that.

“I have also helped many constituents with detailed and specific cases where they have not got the mental health service they need and I will continue to speak regularly to trust management to help them improve.  I have also argued in Parliament on behalf of constituents that there should be real equality between physical and mental health services and their budgets.

“There is more demand than ever on the NHS, with hundreds of thousands more treatments every year than in 2010. That is why it's vital to be able to plan properly for the NHS's future, which you can only do with a strong economy and discipline on public spending.  The government has shown it values the NHS by having ring-fenced its spending at a time when almost all else had to be reduced, by having recently announced more funding to deal with pressures, and by having been able to put in place more doctors and nurses.  Together we can protect the NHS for the future by having a long term economic plan.

“I pay tribute to NHS staff nationally and in Norwich for all they do.  When there is understandable pressure on the service, we should all be supportive of the NHS in Norwich because we want it to improve for everyone’s benefit.”

Chloe speaks to patients and NHS staff regularly and, along with Norwich South Conservative candidate Lisa Townsend, has launched a campaign to support our well-loved NHS, on a six-point local health action plan:

1. Support the hospital and local trusts which are under improvement


2. Keep the Walk In Centre central


3. Work with the N&N to support services for patients throughout the winter, and help our ambulance service improve


4. Make sure that everyone can see a GP when they need one—seven days a week and including evenings


5. Improve local mental health services, so that there is equal treatment for people with mental and physical health problems


6. Protect our NHS for the long term with a strong economy, discipline on public spending and ring-fenced NHS budget