Until now the debate about the NHS in Aldershot and Farnborough has been dominated by Frimley Park. It’s clear from my postbag that you care very deeply about the hospital’s future, which is why it’s such great news that the new Labour government has confirmed that it will be rebuilt as a priority.
With that decision now firmly in the bag, I believe it’s time to widen the discussion. We know that the fabric of our hospital will be modernised but, beyond that, how do we improve our community’s health and social care more generally, including mental well-being?
Last week I held a meeting with constituents who have written to me on this issue. As a local mum, I have my own experiences, of course. But I wanted to consult local people to hear first-hand about their experiences, and their hopes and fears so that I can make a robust, community-based response to the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting’s call for a national discussion on healthcare.
It was a really great session, with attendees from all over the area coming together at the West End Centre, Aldershot. Though there were some distressing and frustrating stories, there was overwhelming positivity about our health service and a genuine desire to talk about how we make long-term improvements.
The discussion covered three main topics: How can we prevent more people from becoming sick in the first place; can we care for people better in the local community; and can we use new technology to accelerate treatment and improve communication?
The background is that, as well as moving fast to stop the strikes in the NHS, Labour is already investing more to increase GP appointments and in hi-tech scanners. Though this is vitally important, there’s much more to be done to create a service that is accessible and responsive.
Unsurprisingly, the people of Aldershot, Farnborough, Hawley, Blackwater and Yateley are not short of ideas!
Though space prevents me from describing everything, there was considerable support for measures to encourage people to take more care of their own health – by exercising more and eating better, naturally, but also by expanding access to tests for cervical screening, prostrate problems and the like.
Perhaps reflecting the area’s youth and skills, many of the suggestions for better community care also involved new technology. Participants expressed huge enthusiasm for the potential of digital systems, including artificial intelligence, to speed up getting appointments, to assist first-responders to triage patients more effectively, and even to be seen, diagnosed and cared for in ‘virtual wards’. This was tempered, of course, by a concern to ensure that these benefits could be delivered while making sure personal care was still available, particularly for less tech-savvy residents.
The consultation event has given me a valuable insight into some of the community’s aspirations for our health service, so I would like to thank everyone who took part. I intend to present the findings to Wes Streeting for consideration as part of his proposed 10 year NHS plan.
Inevitably, I can’t meet everyone on this issue. So, if you have other thoughts or suggestions, please email them to change.NHS before Friday. Be sure to send me a copy.
Alex Baker MP
