Last week Rebecca visited Southend Hospital to see the progress being made to improve cancer care across South Essex.
Alongside the new A&E department, Rebecca was given a tour of the upgraded radiotherapy unit - now home to a £3.5 million 'Linear Accelerator' machine. This advanced technology fires precision targeted high powered radiation at cancer cells to eliminate them and captures real-time images to ensure patients receive the most accurate and effective treatment.
The unit highlights the targeted investment provided by the last Government, funding new equipment and the possibility for the very best care for the people of Castle Point. In our area, the Conservatives oversaw £8 million invested into A&E services alongside a surgical day unit at Southend Hospital and a further £110 million investment at Basildon, Broomfield and Southend Hospitals.
Rebecca supported the previous Conservative Government which increased NHS funding by £1 billion more per week compared to 2016. This figure helped to fund 42,000 more doctors and 71,000 more nurses than under the last Labour Government.
An additional £3.4 billion of capital funding was also pledged at the 2024 Conservative Spring Budget to aid the NHS’ technological and digital transformation between 2025/26 and 2027/28 to increase NHS efficiency.
Moreover, Community Diagnostic Centres - of which there are now 165 operational sites nationally - offer patients a wide range of diagnostic tests closer to home and greater choice on where and how they are undertaken, reducing the need for hospital visits and potentially expediting the start of treatment. So far these centres have delivered over 9 million tests, checks and scans.
The Pharmacy First scheme was launched by the last Conservative Government and NHS England at the start of 2024 to give patients quick and accessible care and ease pressure on GP services. This enables community pharmacists to supply prescription-only medicines, including antibiotics and antivirals, to treat seven common health conditions without the need to visit a GP – Sinusitis, Sore throat, Earache, Infected insect bite, Impetigo, Shingles and uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in women.
The Labour Government by comparison have failed to reveal any plans or detail to how they will continue to improve the state of our NHS, with the exception of the abolition of NHS England, which will not happen for years and appears to be delayed and in chaos. After 14 years of opposition and a year in Government, they have no contribution to the NHS except to increase funding - the NHS budget will now be roughly the equivalent of the entire GDP of Portugal. While adequate funding is crucial, it must be targeted and provide value.
Commenting after the visit, Rebecca said: "It was a pleasure to visit Southend Hospital and see the upgraded radiotherapy unit which will provide lifesaving diagnosis and treatment to the people of Castle Point and South Essex. I am pleased to see that Conservative investments made to our NHS are helping to boost the incredible care it provides. My Party and I will continue to call on the Government to provide reform alongside any future spending commitments to ensure that money is spent wisely and benefits patients."
