South Thanet MP, Stephen Ladyman, has today welcomed the announcement today of a new £9m project to reduce health inequalities and improve access to health care in Thanet.Speaking from Westminster he said:
“This initiative by our local Health Service is excellent news. Not only will it mean that every Thanet citizen has easy access to a GP from 8am to 8pm the project will also target health inequalities right across the District. As well as having hubs in Ramsgate and Margate the Thanet Community Care Scheme will also have a mobile unit so it can deliver health care into the heart of communities like Cliftonville.
People who commute, or people start off to work early and get home late, often have problems getting to see their own GP at a time that is convenient so this service will be great news for them.
It will also be great news for people in the District who currently are not getting the care they need because they aren’t registered with a GP or don’t have the information or support needed to live a healthy life. People from poor backgrounds have on average a life expectancy that is 13years less than people from prosperous backgrounds and they have traditionally found it more difficult to live healthy lifestyles and to access health services. This new initiative will work through primary schools to get children started on the right path to health, will deliver services right into the heart of local neighbourhoods and will use organizations like the Scrine Foundation and Porchlight to reach people living rough and in poor accommodation.
No-one will be made to register with this service or to use it if they don’t want to. No existing GP services will be reduced or cut to pay for it and the service has been planned to complement and not replace existing family doctors in Thanet.
Unfortunately, local Conservatives have attacked this sort of project, they remain wedded to the belief that convenient services are something only private health schemes should provide. The Labour view is that the NHS should be accessible for everyone and should give patients a world class service at times and places that suit the individual.”
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