Welwyn Hatfield MP Andrew Lewin puts forward a case for more community care in his latest column for this newspaper
It’s brilliant that people are living longer, but with an ageing population, we need our NHS to deliver some services differently.
I wanted to use my column to update you on my work in this space, because we all know that winter is the time of year when our health services come under the most pressure.
One of the objectives the government has set is for a greater focus on care in the community, to treat people close to home wherever possible and to take pressure off hospitals.
For us in Welwyn Hatfield, the objective should be a system where fewer patients need to travel to the Lister for treatment, with more people being seen by a medical professional in our two towns.
Our GPs will continue to be of critical importance, but across the country the government wants to support them with more than 100 new Neighbourhood Health Centres.
The objective is that Neighbourhood Health Centres will bring services together in local communities, so different types of care are easier to access and better connected.
Services may include:
• General practice and Primary Care Network services
• Community health services
• Mental health support
• Minor diagnostics and specialist community clinic
I know how treasured the old QEII was by local people. Me included, given I was born at the hospital nearly 40 years ago!
The New QEII is not equipped to be a full hospital, but I am making the case for as many services as possible to be delivered from the building and raised this in the House of Commons with Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Health, this week.
I’ve had meetings with our Integrated Care Board, NHS Trust and local GPs, exploring our options.
No decisions have been made, as there is competition for Neighbourhood Health Centre funding from all across the country and not every place will have them in the first few waves.
That said, I will do everything I can to make the case for funding for Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City.
Other innovation continues at pace. Our local NHS has been a pioneer of the Hospital at Home model and helps hundreds of people over the winter.
It’s also vaccination season, and I’d encourage everyone who is eligible to step forward for your flu and COVID jabs. Flu jabs are available for all at local pharmacies too.
Waiting lists are down by more than 400,000 since the 2024 General Election.
The trend is positive, but pressure is still significant. Investing in community care will be crucial to the future of our NHS.
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