Supporting our local NHS

Helen Whately at Faversham Village Hospital

My Aims

  • Improve services for people in Faversham and Mid Kent
  • Joined-up health and social care
  • Better mental health care

 

Healthcare affects us all, whether we’re patients ourselves or our families and friends. As a parent, I make regular trips to the GP with my children and occasional visits to A&E too.

The major hospitals around this area are all in difficulties and many GPs are full to bursting, with patients queuing at 8am for appointments. The future of Faversham Minor Injuries Unit is uncertain (as I write).

Our local health services are not alone; GPs and hospitals around the country are struggling to cope. Although every year the NHS provides millions of people with excellent care, shocking cases have emerged where patients have been treated appallingly.

It’s easy to be critical but not necessarily helpful. I will champion our local NHS, work for good decisions and a fair share of funding. I use these services too. I want the NHS to provide excellent care to everyone who needs it.

 

News

How good is mental health care in Faversham and Mid Kent?

It can be difficult to get a true picture of how our area is doing when it comes to mental health services.

So I'm pleased that Mental Health Watch, a new website which makes scrutinising spending and performance easy, has been launched by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

We’re getting a Kent Medical School, now we need a modern Hospital

Healthcare in this area simply isn’t good enough. Our hospitals are struggling; it’s a hard to recruit enough doctors and nurses to staff three major hospitals in East Kent. And the buildings are out of date. I’ve campaigned for a new medical school in Kent, and we’re getting it.

Have your say on the future of our health service

I'm hosting a public meeting, along with Concern for Health in East Kent [CHEK], to give local people the chance to have a say on changes to health services.

It will take place on Friday 27th April at 7pm at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School in Faversham

Kent is getting a medical school!

Kent is getting a medical school. This is truly fantastic news. A medical school will make all the difference to healthcare in our area. In recent years it’s been difficult to attract doctors to work in our local hospitals, especially A&Es.