COVENTRY North West MP Taiwo Owatemi has claimed government failures have left the NHS ‘in a state of emergency’ before launching a survey asking residents for their views on local services.
Ms Owatemi, who worked as an NHS cancer pharmacist before she was elected in 2019, said she was ‘increasingly concerned’ about the state of the health service.
So far, 70 per cent of Coventrians to have responded to Ms Owatemi’s survey have said they were putting off dealing with health worries due to the current situation of the NHS.
During a debate in parliament last Wednesday (January 11), Ms Owatemi called for the government to utilise the ‘key resource of community pharmacy’ to ease pressure on GP surgeries.
Ms Owatemi said: “The NHS is in crisis, and I don’t say that lightly.
“Every month I volunteer as a cancer pharmacist at Coventry’s hospital, and I see first-hand the strain our health service is under.
“I see the delays and the backlogs and what this means for patients. I know that this is not the fault of our dedicated NHS staff.
“It is the result of 13 years of under-funding and mismanagement of the NHS by this Conservative government.
“I have heard from too many constituents who struggle to get an appointment with a GP, who are waiting hours and hours for an ambulance to arrive in an emergency and too many who have experienced gridlock in A&E.”
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust said:“The NHS is here for you and your family this Winter.
“It is important to choose the right healthcare at the right place by calling NHS 111 or using online at 111.nhs.uk to get assessed and directed to the appropriate medical help.
“Minor ailments can often be seen in community pharmacies or via your GP surgery, while Urgent Treatment Centres can treat minor injuries and illnesses.
“Not only will this be a huge support to health and care staff, but it will likely be more convenient for residents seeking help and advice for their immediate issues. If you think it’s an emergency, please call 999 and seek immediate help.”
Click here to fill in Ms Owatemi’s survey.
