Chloe Smith speaks in Commons today about AE at Norfolk Norwich Hospital

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, today questioned the Secretary of State for Health in an urgent debate about A&E, after a number of major incidents at regional hospitals. The Norfolk and Norwich Hospital announced an incident on Monday of this week. She highlighted that medical staff in Norwich say that service is safe, and she paid tribute to the hard work of Norwich NHS staff. She also praised the innovative approach seen at the N&N’s new urgent care unit. She urged Norwich GPs to apply to the Access Fund, which would allow them to offer more appointments to Norwich patients. Chloe has set out her support for the NHS in Norwich, with six priorities:

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

Chloe commented: “Our ageing population is putting pressure on accident and emergency departments across the country, with over a million more visits a year than in 2010. However, our long-term economic plan means that my vote in Parliament has gone on protecting and increasing the NHS budget to help deliver a strong NHS. “This means we can afford to have almost 1,200 more A&E doctors including 400 more A&E consultants than in 2010. At the N&N there are now 340 more clinical staff than four years ago. “The government has also made a record £700 million available, and planned earlier than ever, to help ease A&E pressures this winter. Overall, the NHS is doing more than ever before to treat people when they need it. Compared with 2009/10, A&Es are now able to see 2,000 more people a day, and nine in ten patients, within the target time of four hours of them arriving. I want Norwich people to be sure that whenever they need help – however serious, day or night – the NHS will be there for them. The NHS in Norwich should have support from all of us, based on a strong economy.”