No doubt your readers will be as concerned as I am that waiting times at A&E units are again at a record high, and likely to get worse as winter sets in. One factor is the increasing difficulty for patients in getting appointments with their GPs, many heading to A&E instead.
I was astounded to be told that a Merton Park resident has recently been made to wait the best part of a month to see her GP at her local practice. Calling on 11 December, the earliest appointment she was offered was 5 January. This is a travesty of the NHS as we have known it.
I remember David Cameron promising in 2010 that the NHS would be safe in his hands. He also promised no top down reorganisation. Two broken promises. Over £3billion has been wasted restructuring the NHS with only longer waiting times to show for this.
We have been aware of problems in other parts of the country. When Merton residents are also suffering unacceptable delays, enough is truly enough.
Councillor Jeff Hanna
Labour
Merton Council
- Send your letters to: letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk
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